Police say a man suspected of shooting a woman to death and injuring her husband outside a Show Low Walmart Monday has apparently commited suicide.
The department reportedly learned Tuesday afternoon that Donald A. Belanger, 55, was found dead in his vehicle near Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The Show Low Police Department's investigation into the shooting began to focus on Belanger as one of several suspects in this case, said Smythe.
Smythe said that on Tuesday at about 12:51 am, a New Mexico State Police sergeant conducted a traffic stop on a white car that appeared to be driving impaired.
The stop reportedly took place on Interstate 25 near Albuquerque. As the sergeant exited his police vehicle, the driver of the car killed himself.
State Police Investigators confirmed the identity of the driver as Donald Belanger, 55, from Heber, Arizona, according to Smythe.
At the time of his death, two firearms and a suicide note were reportedly found in the vehicle.
Smythe said that while Belanger continues to be a suspect in the shooting there is no independent evidence to confirm that he is the suspect. Confirmation will likely take weeks after ballistic and DNA evidence is evaluated.
Killed in Monday morning's shooting was 74-year-old Simmone Deprins. Her husband, 74-year-old Armand Deprins, was seriously injured.
Smythe said that Armand has undergone several surgeries and is expected to undergo additional procedures in the next 48 hours.
The shooting occurred in the Walmart Super Center parking lot near White Mountain Road and Webb Drive at about 8:40 a.m., according to Randy Harris of the Show Low Police Department.
Police said the suspect is a Native American male, 300 pounds or more, and was seen driving a white 1990s Nissan with a black front bumper, black rear bumper and black rims.
The motive for the shooting is not known at this time, though police are saying that property is missing from the victims.
