Police ID People Killed in Murder-Suicide

Officials have identified the man and woman who died during a murder-suicide in New London Friday.

Friday morning, Jose Del Valle Veleo, 32, shot and killed Jessenia Calderon, 23, inside the Garfield Avenue apartment they shared, then shot himself, police said.

The medical examiner ruled the deaths as murder and suicide.

Neighbors called police to report that the couple was arguing.

Laurie Mirlas, 44, lives in the apartment next to the one where the shooting occurred and called police, The Day of New London reported Friday.

Around 9 a.m., Mirlas and her son, Robert Rouleau, 26, heard arguing in the apartment, Rouleau told police. A woman was “whimpering and crying,” he said.

At 9:35 a.m., his mother called police to report that quarreling next door had turned to physical violence, The Day of New London reports.

Five minutes later, she heard at least one shot. A bullet came through the wall, the Day reports.

Rouleau, who lives with his mother, and told The Day that as many as three shots may have been fired in rapid succession.

“Dry wall was flying everywhere,” he told the paper.

Property owner, Clance Peterson, of Stonington, told The Day he was not aware of problems in the apartment.

“There were no reports of arguments from neighbors. No signs whatsoever. This comes as a total surprise,” he said.

Rouleau told The Day that the couple was arguing in Spanish. “It doesn't matter the language,” he said, “you can tell when a woman's in distress.”

Contact Us