ROCKFORD — A husband and wife were shot to death Thursday at their home on Bruce Street. The woman's brother, who is wanted in the shooting and killing of her dog last month, is a "person of interest" in the double homicide, police said.

Christina Langston-Hill, 27, was found dead outside the home. Inside, officers located her husband, Teon Hill, 28, who also suffered gunshot wounds. He was taken to a local hospital and later pronounced dead.

Officers responded shortly after 3:30 a.m. to a gunfire detection system alert in the area.

Rockford Police Chief Dan O'Shea said at a news conference that the shootings occurred at the same location — 727 Bruce St. — where two men took turns shooting to death a dog on July 19.

O'Shea said police are investigating whether the animal cruelty case and the double homicide are related. The men wanted in the animal cruelty case are Kelvin Langston, 28, — Langston-Hill's older brother — and Douglas Hollyfield, 26. Both are "persons of interest" in Thursday's killings, O'Shea said.

Winnebago County State's Attorney Marilyn Hite Ross said Langston-Hill had requested an order of protection against Langston and had taken out a no-stalking order against Hollyfield after her dog was killed. In the no-stalking petition, Langston-Hill said that a few months ago, Hollyfield "took part in beating my husband by putting hands and feet on him."

Rasheeda Waters, 39, who lives in the 900 block of North Winnebago Street, said that the Langston family, including Langston-Hill's younger brother, have lived at the Bruce Street home for years. She said Langston-Hill has children but she had not seen them around the home in awhile. On Thursday, Waters awoke to the sound of police sirens.

"My niece heard shots and car tires squealing," Waters said. "I came outside and saw police lights everywhere."

Langston-Hill said in her no-stalking petition that she worked at the Goodwill Outlet on Riverside Boulevard.

Hill had been a security guard at the Save-A-Lot at 1701 W. State St. but lost that job about a year ago, said Anna Juliano, store manager. Even so, he rode the bus to the store virtually every day to visit for a half an hour or so with staff and customers, she said. She said he had a loud voice, was full of energy and was "constantly interacting."

"He was hilarious," Juliano said. The only trouble he mentioned was when he talked about Langston, she said. "My wife's brother is driving me crazy," he'd say, and then move away from that conversation, Juliano said.

Caitlyn Conner, 30, who lives near where the couple was slain, said she had seen police cars at the couple's home "three or four times since we moved in in May."

Marcus Clay, 20, has lived in the neighborhood for three years. "It's dangerous over here," Clay said. "They need to put cameras up and we need streetlights."

A 28-year-old man was shot multiple times Thursday near the intersection of Winnebago Street and Fisher Avenue, roughly three blocks from the home where the couple were killed. His injuries were life-threatening, police said. Police did not know of any connection between the shootings.

The Winnebago State's Attorney's Office authorized charges in the Winnebago Street shooting late Thursday night.

Police are looking for Thomas C. Pouncy, 22, of Rockford in connection with the shooting of the 28-year-old man. He is being charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm and failure to have Firearm Owners Identification.

The Hills were the 14th and 15th homicide victims this year in the city. There had been 12 homicides by this point in 2018. There have been five homicides in the city in the past 11 days. Two men were shot to death July 29 in the area of Hutchins Avenue and Pearl Street. And a man was shot to death Aug. 1 in the 1200 block of Eighth Street.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 815-966-2900 or leave an anonymous tip with Rockford Area Crime Stoppers at 815-963-7867.

Staff writer Corina Curry contributed to this report.

Ken DeCoster: 815-987-1391; kdecoster@rrstar.com; @DeCosterKen

Georgette Braun: 815-987-1331; gbraun@rrstar.com; @GeorgetteBraun