Man, woman die in apparent murder-suicide at Orange County apartment complex

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A man and a woman died in an apparent murder-suicide at an apartment complex Wednesday morning, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

Deputies were called shortly before 10:15 a.m. to the Residence at West Place apartments on Sherwood Terrace Drive near West Colonial Drive and Apopka-Vineland Road in reference to a man with a gun.

“While deputies were en route to the incident, a caller said the man had fired his gun,” a Sheriff’s Office spokesman said. “As deputies were arriving on scene, they heard additional shots being fired before finding two people who had been shot.”

Deputies said they discovered a woman who had been shot and a man who appeared to have a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Both were taken to a hospital, where they died.

Read: See who just bought 20 acres next to The Villages

Investigators said an innocent bystander in their apartment was also grazed by one of the suspect’s bullets and was treated at the scene.

“Deputies are not looking for any outstanding suspects,” the spokesman said. “We don’t anticipate having names for release until possibly tomorrow. It’s still very early in the investigation, and it’s important that detectives are able to continue their work in this case.”

Edwin Valentin told Channel 9 that he believes the man and woman are boyfriend and girlfriend.

He said he heard the man shouting at the woman

Read: 2-year-old boy drowns after falling into pool at home day care in Seminole County

“The girl was just afraid and, like, ‘Please back away from me. I’m scared. Go inside. We can talk about this,’” Valentin said. “But he said, ‘No, we’re not going to talk. What’s wrong with you?’”

He said he then heard the woman tell the man, “The police are behind you. Stop!”

Valentin said he then heard at least four gunshots fired.

“We’re still surprised, but this (has) happened before,” he said. “It’s like the third or fourth body I’ve seen in this neighborhood alone.”

Read: Happy 140th birthday, Lake Eola Park: 9 things to know about the Orlando landmark

Watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News for updates to this developing story.

See a map of the scene below:

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

©2023 Cox Media Group