Authorities say an off-duty Silver City police captain shot and killed his estranged girlfriend before taking his own life.
New Mexico State Police say 41-year-old Marcello Contreras and 31-year-old Nikki Bascom both died at the scene of Thursday's shooting outside a Silver City home.
According to a male witness, Contreras and Bascom were in the process of ending their relationship.
Contreras showed up and allegedly pointed a gun at the witness and demanded to speak with Bascom, who was sitting inside a vehicle.
The witness told police he persuaded Contreras to turn over his gun.
That is when Bascom got out of the vehicle and Contreras allegedly pulled out a second firearm and shot her.
He then turned the gun on himself.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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