HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — Two women were found dead Monday in an apparent murder-suicide at an apartment complex near Jersey Village, according to deputies.
Though the two women were found dead Monday, deputies believe the women have been dead since Saturday.
What we know
On Saturday, Feb. 24, shortly before 6 p.m., deputies responded to the Derby at Steeplechase Apartments on West Road near Jones Road after receiving reports of gunshots in the area.
According to Sgt. Ben Beall with the Harris County Sheriff's Office, when deputies made it to the apartment complex, they met with residents who said they heard gunshots and noticed a bullet had come through the wall of their apartment.
Beall said the deputies looked around the apartment and found a bullet projectile. They then tried to make contact with the neighbors who shared the wall where the bullet came through, but no one answered the door, Beall said. When the deputies couldn't make contact with management to access a key, they generated a police report and left, Beall said.
On Monday, Feb. 26, the residents who reported a bullet flying through their wall contacted the apartment manager so they could look into it, Beall said. The apartment manager contacted the courtesy officer who was able to jump a fence and saw what appeared to be a body lying on the floor of the resident's neighbor's apartment. Because the neighbor's apartment was locked and deadbolted, the courtesy officer and manager had to kick the door in and that's when they found two women dead inside a bedroom.
Beall said four to five shell casings were found in two different rooms of the two-bedroom apartment, as well as live rounds and a pistol.
Beall said the two women, who are believed to be in their 20s, were roommates. What led to the shooting is unknown.
When asked why the responding deputies did not break into the women's apartment on Saturday, Beall said the deputies were not clear where the shooting came from and didn't want to leave the apartment unsecured after making a forced entry because they couldn't get ahold of management.
An investigation into this incident is underway.
The identity of the women is pending an investigation from a medical examiner.
Listen to the latest update from deputies in the video player above: