LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — A Florida man who had been drinking and using cocaine fatally shot his longtime girlfriend and a man before turning the gun on himself, authorities said.
Seven children who were in the home at the time were not harmed, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in a news release.
“When you combine excessive amounts of alcohol, illegal drugs, and an explosive temper, murder can occur,” Judd said. “None of this should have ever happened.”
Authorities responding to numerous 911 calls found Jesus Nunez, 34, dead outside a home. He appeared to have suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound, officials said.
Inside the home were the bodies of Nunez’s girlfriend of 14 years, 38-year-old Stephanie Ruiz, and 36-year-old Yunieki Luis. Both were fatally shot. The children and another adult fled the home when the shooting began, investigators said.
Witnesses said Nunez had become angry about his relationship with Ruiz, worsened by the drinking and cocaine use, Judd said.
Ruiz and Nunez had four children together. None of them were injured.
“This appears to be two homicides committed by Jesus Nunez, who then shot and killed himself,” the sheriff’s statement said.
