An off-duty New York City police officer murdered his wife with a shotgun outside their home in Queens, Wednesday, then went inside and turned the weapon on himself. According to the New York Post, the murder-suicide took place at around 7:30 in the evening after the officer’s wife returned home late from work and refused to cook her husband dinner.

Officer Sherlon Smikle, 33, reportedly chased his wife, Lana Morris, out of the house shouting, then shot her four times. He then entered the residence and shot himself once in the head, dying instantly.

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The New York Daily News reported that Morris worked as a school-safety agent and was still wearing her uniform when paramedics rushed her to Queens General Hospital, where she died of her wounds.

According to the New York Post, Smikle’s weapon was taken away by the police force after a recent domestic dispute with Morris. Law enforcement officials are investigating how and where Smikle acquired a shotgun.

Neighbors and witnesses reported to the Post that the argument Wednesday began and escalated after Morris arrived home later than usual from work and refused to cook dinner for Smikle.

The couple are survived by their 8-year-old son, who was playing at a friend’s house when the murder-suicide took place.

[image of shotgun barrel via Shutterstock.com]