A man shot a woman at a gas station in Montgomery County Tuesday afternoon and then shot himself to death as an off-duty officer tried to intervene, police said.
The man, who is believed to have shot the woman and then himself, was pronounced dead at the scene. The woman was rushed to a hospital, where she later died. Police believe the pair was married and said they arrived at the gas station with a 16-year-old family member.
Shots rang out about 12:20 p.m. at the Washingtonian gas station at Frederick and Germantown roads, according to shocked witnesses and Montgomery County Police.
Witness Mireya Lopez was nearby when she heard a woman screaming.
"The lady was begging him, "Please don't kill me, don't kill me,'" Lopez said.
Police questioned the teen passenger and believe the man and woman sent the teen inside and then fought in the car. That's when the man is suspected of shooting the woman inside a black SUV.
Witness Bob Cherian was pumping gas when he heard the initial gunfire.
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"The first gunshot, I saw a woman -- either she was out of the car or she was inside the car -- but she came running out and screaming, and she ran towards the car wash," he said.
An off-duty police officer parked near the gas station heard the initial gunfire and approached the SUV, police said late Tuesday in an update. The officer tried to intervene, but the man shot himself in the head, Montgomery County Police Capt. Paul Starks said.
The identities of the suspect and victim will be released once family members are notified, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 240-773-5070.
