Police ID Couple Killed in Apparent Murder-Suicide in Hartford

A 48-year-old man and his 38-year-old wife are dead in an apparent murder-suicide on Broad Street in Hartford on Monday.

Police identified the deceased as Ramon Villa and Reyna Villa. 

While police have not identified them as husband and wife, relatives told NBC Connecticut through an interpreter that the man and woman found dead were married and owned a bodega below their home.

Police responded to 1020 Broad Street at 12:50 p.m. on Monday after receiving 911 calls and found the couple in a bedroom in the third-floor apartment. Both had been shot in the head and medics pronounced them dead at the scene at 1:04 p.m.

Police said they also found a shotgun at the scene.

Based on the preliminary investigation, police do not believe anyone else was home at the time of the shooting.

Investigators are working to confirm who fired the weapon, but said it appears to be a murder-suicide and the man likely shot the woman. Police are still working to confirm that.

Police said on Monday that they notified two children “associated with the victims” while they were at school.

Hartford Public Schools were also notified and Hartford police special investigative detectives, the victims advocate and state crisis workers are working to help the surviving children, Hartford Deputy Chief Brian Foley said.

Friends and family describe the couple as well-liked and loved.

"They were nice people,” said Yolanda Rodriguez, of Hartford, who never saw the couple fight.

"They were popular. They had been here for years at this store and another store," Kenny Lalamohme, a relative, said.

Police ask anyone with information to call the Major Crimes Division at 860-757-4248.

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