MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Eagan’s police chief calls it a senseless crime – a couple killed while taking their evening walk Thursday night.

This is not how the evening was supposed to end. A peaceful walk turned into an active crime scene as neighbors watched.

Milo Metzel lives nearby.

“Must have been 20, 30 cops and investigators,” Metzel said.

Eagan police say a 57-year-old woman and her 74-year-old husband were on their nightly stroll through a neighborhood office park when a driver hit and killed them both, and took off.

Soon after, officers found the van a mile away in the La Fonda De Los Lobos parking lot.

“I can tell you through some very, very good police work and the assistance of the community, we were able to locate the suspect vehicle hours later and we took the suspect in custody this morning,” Deputy Chief Roger New of the Eagan Police Department.

Jonna Armartey, 36, was arrested for two counts of 2nd degree murder. Officers say it’s uncertain if alcohol was involved.

“Markings on the ground today as investigators put everything together, even putting up a drone,” New said.

What is clear is that it didn’t have to happen, the chief says.

“I want to extend my condolences to this family. It’s got to be a very, very difficult day and the information we’ve got at this time is this is just something they do on a daily basis and this is, this was totally a shock to a number of people in our community as well as this family,” New said.

Milo Metzel remembers seeing them make those nightly treks.

“Stunned, shocked, why do people gotta happen and the guy drives off right away, what the heck, it’s a sad deal,” Metzel said.