A firefighter accused of shooting his former girlfriend and her two children dead with a gun he had stolen from an emergency services station is being hunted by police.

Suspect Ednei Antonio Vieira, 42, allegedly took the handgun from his fire station during a night shift after distracting a colleague with a free snack, according to local media.

Then after signing himself off duty, he told his work pal he hoped to be going on a trip with his ex Josilene Paula Da Rosa.

Just hours later Josilene, 39, and her two children, Arthur, 12, and Gabriel, 20, were shot dead in their home in Apiai, in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo, on 16th May.

Local media said that before the gruesome triple murder, the pair had argued and Joseline had told him she was breaking up with him for good.

Investigators say the fugitive firefighter crashed his car while fleeing but has not yet been found.

Police spokesperson Valmir Oliveira Barbosa said the investigation is ongoing.