Two dead in apparent murder-suicide on city's south side



MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A 41-year-old man and a 39-year-old woman were found dead near 5th and Bottsford on Milwaukee's south side Monday, April 8th. Police are calling the incident an apparent murder-suicide.

According to police, the 41-year-old man was found dead in the driveway and the 39-year-old woman was found dead inside a van.

Shots reportedly rang out in the neighborhood shortly before 9:00 a.m.

Gayle Glaser says she heard three shots and came to her window, but saw nothing. Another neighbor ran to the scene and saw the man shot to death, lying near a van. Inside the van was a woman who had been shot.

"There's some indication that the two victims are residents of that dwelling. They did have some type of a relationship. It's unclear if they were ever married. At this juncture it appears they were not," Milwaukee Police Lt. Kenneth Grahms said.

Dujuan Scroggins came to the home to check on the 39-year-old mother of two after she did not show up for work at a loan company. The woman works with Scroggins' wife.

"She text my wife saying that she was going to be running a little late. And then I guess, I don't know how my wife found out, but she rushed over here and here it was. I thought everything was all, was working out for her, but I guess it wasn't," Scroggins said.

Scroggins and another friend of the woman's were aware of problems in the woman's relationship.

"I know she was having problems with her boyfriend. We talked on that several times. She was in a troubled relationship. She just wanted out. That's all I can say. She wanted out," Antonio Greer said.

The 41-year-old man believed to be the shooter drove a cab. The cab company says there was nothing unusual about his demeanor lately. However, he recently took a month off of work and then came back.

"I was just stunned. Really stunned -- couldn't believe it. Like why did this have to happen to her, you know?" Scroggins said.

Milwaukee County court records show a more violent past. Charged with child abuse in 2012, he allegedly beat his teenage daughter because he believed she told his girlfriend he fathered a child with another woman.

The victim's best friend was at the scene on Monday, and talked with FOX6 News.

"If someone is in this type of relationship, just try to help. Be there as much as they can. Try to help them get out to stop something tragic like this," the woman's best friend said.

Milwaukee police say they will most likely release the names of those shot on Tuesday -- saying the investigation is ongoing.