Neighbors at a quiet apartment complex in High Point were left shaken Thursday night after police discovered 20-year-old Julissa Duarte and 22-year-old Kevin Sanchez dead inside a residence on Chester Ridge Drive in what investigators believe was a domestic-related murder-suicide.
According to High Point police, officers were called to Eastchester Ridge Apartments after someone close to Duarte reported not hearing from her for several days. Concern quickly grew when repeated attempts to contact her went unanswered. By the time officers arrived at the apartment for a welfare check, the situation had already turned tragic.
Police said officers knocked on the door but received no response from anyone inside. Investigators then looked through a window and spotted a person lying on the floor of the apartment. Officers forced their way into the residence and found Duarte and Sanchez suffering from gunshot wounds.
Authorities said preliminary findings suggest Sanchez shot Duarte before turning the gun on himself. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. Police also confirmed the two had previously been involved in a dating relationship, adding another painful layer to a case already rattling the community.
Friends and neighbors described the discovery as heartbreaking. Residents in the area said they never expected something so violent to happen in the apartment complex, which sits in a normally calm section of High Point. Several people were seen standing outside Thursday night as investigators moved in and out of the building gathering evidence.
The North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is expected to determine the exact cause and time of death. Investigators have not released details about how long the bodies may have been inside the apartment before officers arrived.
Police continue to classify the case as a domestic-related homicide investigation. Officials have not indicated that anyone else was involved. Detectives are still reviewing evidence and speaking with people connected to the couple as they work to piece together the final moments leading up to the shooting.
The tragedy has also renewed conversations around domestic violence in Guilford County. The Guilford County Family Justice Center reminded the public that help remains available for victims and survivors dealing with abuse, sexual assault, elder abuse, and child abuse. Community advocates say incidents like this are painful reminders that warning signs inside troubled relationships can sometimes stay hidden until it is too late.
