Police: 2 dead in murder-suicide in west Phoenix

PHOENIX - Police have identified two people found dead in a Phoenix home Monday afternoon, who police believe, were victims of a murder-suicide.

Phoenix police Sgt. Steve Martos said police received a call around noon from someone saying they had found their parents dead inside a home near 51st Avenue and Indian School Road.

When police arrived, they found 46-year-old Debra Fernandez and a 52-year-old Thomas Fernandez in a bedroom dead from gunshot wounds.

Investigators learned the couple were involved in an argument late Sunday night and into the early morning hours. 

Police believe the argument stemmed from financial issues they were dealing with. Martos said others in the home heard “popping” sounds sometime in the night but did not realize they were gunshots. 

When the couple did not come out of their room Monday morning, one of the children checked on them and found them dead inside the bedroom.

Two adult children and five small children under the age of five were also living in the home. 

Air15 video showed crime scene taped around the home and several police units surrounding the residence.

Martos said officers are investigating the incident as a case of murder-suicide.