Deadly Shooting Determined To Be Murder Suicide In El Paso’s Upper Valley

El Paso Police determined Sunday’s shooting investigation to be a murder-suicide. Spokesman Darrel Petry told ABC-7 that 52-year-old Maria Perales is the city’s first murder victim of 2011.

According to Petry, Perales was shot in the head outside her home in the 5600 block of Melody Lane in the Upper Valley after a confrontation with 64-year-old Juan Hernandez. Hernandez then shot himself in the head, according to police.

Officers were called out to Perales’ home at around 12:10 PM to investigate the shooting. That’s when they discovered the bodies.

Police said Perales and Hernandez had been “seeing” each other though the nature of their relationship remains unclear at this time.

Police said the handgun used in the murder-suicide was recovered at the scene.