ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Police have identified the victim and suspect at the center of a murder-suicide investigation in south Abilene.

During a press conference, Abilene Chief of Police Stan Stanridge said Jennifer Cunningham, 40, was pronounced deceased at the scene of a shooting at the Willow Crest Apartment complex on the 2600 block of Nonesuch Road around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Investigating officers believe Cunningham was shot as she was attempting to get into her car, and they believe the shooter was in close proximity to Cunningham, according to Chief Stanridge.

Witnesses at the scene saw the suspect standing over Cunningham’s body before fleeing on foot, Chief Stanridge stated in the conference.

A little over half-an-hour later, a man, Christopher Hale, 45, was found deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound inside his car on the 2500 block of S. Treadaway Blvd. Chief Stanridge said the initial investigation suggests Hale is the shooter responsible for Cunningham’s death.

The motive behind the murder-suicide has not been released, but the press conference indicated it was related to domestic violence.

Abilene Police Sergeant Lynn Beard stated evidence gathered during the initial investigation suggests Cunningham and Hale had been in a relationship that ended about four months ago.

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