Man saves baby twins by shooting dead father as he was trying to drown them

Police say the babies are doing well after a brief hospital stay

Prosecutors are investigating whether Cash Freeman should face charges in the shooting death of Leland Foster, who was killed while trying to drown his twin infants (Larry W. Smith/Getty Images)

An Oklahoma man saved 3-month-old twins when he shot and killed their father, who was trying to drown them, a local NBC News station reported.

Police in Ada, Oklahoma have said the babies are doing well after being released from hospital after the incident.

Leland Foster, who lives approximately 130 miles away from Ada, went to the home where his estranged wife Michelle Forrells was staying with the twins.

Mr Foster held Ms Forrells at knifepoint in the bathroom while he attempted to drown the infants.

A 12-year-old girl only identified as the granddaughter of the permanent residents, ran to a neighbour, Cash Freeman, for help.

Mr Freeman ran into Ms Forrells’ house with his gun and shot Mr Foster twice in the back when he saw the scene. He immediately removed the infants from the bathtub.

It is unclear at this time if Ms Forrells was physically hurt, but she was the person to call emergency services after Mr Foster was shot.

Another neighbour, Summer Pierce, told the local NBC station that she thinks Mr Freeman “did the right thing, because who knows what would happen?...[the infants] might not have made it".

Mr Freeman was interviewed and released from the scene after police arrived.

However, Ada Police said prosecutors are investigating whether Mr Freeman should face charges for killing Mr Foster.

According to court records, Mr Foster had prior criminal charges for domestic abuse of his ex-girlfriend and arson for setting her clothes on fire. He pleaded no contest in that case.

Several people have taken to social media to call Mr Freeman a hero.