DOVER — Wentworth-Douglass Hospital has a heavy police presence following an apparent murder-suicide Tuesday morning. Watch video of the entire press conference now.

DOVER — A husband and wife died Tuesday in Wentworth-Douglass Hospital following a shooting in the critical care unit, and police are treating the incident as a murder-suicide.



Officers were called to the hospital at 6:03 a.m. after a report of shots fired inside the hospital, according to a statement released by Dover Police Chief Anthony Colarusso and N.H. Attorney General Joseph Foster. Police arrived at the hospital soon afterward and found the husband and wife dead.



“While the investigation is still in the early stages and ongoing, the two deaths appear to be the result of a murder-suicide,” the statement said.



Autopsies will be conducted on the man and woman to determine an official cause of death.



The victims' identities were withheld pending notification of family. However, details about the crime – including the names of the shooter and victim -- emerged early Tuesday on social media.



Dover resident Mark A. Lavoie posted a note on his Facebook page Tuesday morning indicating plans to kill his wife, Kathy, who was receiving treatment at the hospital.



“I want to start off by saying this is going to be officially ruled a murder/suicide when in all actuality it is a double suicide,” he wrote in the post published just before 6 a.m.



His post includes final instructions regarding his home, property and finances. He also asks that family pets be taken care of.



It's not clear why Kathy was in the hospital, although Lavoie's post indicates she was suffering from mental illness.



A woman identifying herself as Lavoie's sister also confirmed on Facebook that her brother and sister-in-law are dead.



Hospital spokeswoman Dawn Fernald briefed the media at about noon Tuesday. She did not release any details about the incident or take questions from reporters but said the hospital was operating normally.



This story will be updated.



Anyone who is contemplating harming themselves can call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).