Falls Church

Woman Hit With Car, Shot in Falls Church Murder-Suicide, Police Say

Katherine Martell, 30, was killed by the father of her child

A 30-year-old mother died Tuesday after being run down by a car and shot in Falls Church by a man who then shot himself dead, police say.

Katherine Martell was killed by Christopher Brooks, 30, police say. The two had a child together.

Martell was in the parking lot area of her condo building on the 3100 block of South Manchester street in the Falls Church area of Fairfax Country when Brooks arrived and drove toward her. She was struck by the white Nissan SUV, police say.

Brooks then shot Martell before shooting himself, police say.

A delivery driver saw the attack and called the police about 11:37 a.m. Tuesday, but dispatch recordings reveal that police couldn't help the victim once they arrived.

"It appears it might be a murder-suicide. We've got two victims here. They're DOA [dead on arrival]," an officer said.

It's unclear why Brooks attacked Martell, but her child is safe with a family member, police say. The child was not present during the attack.

An autopsy will be performed to confirm how Martell and Brooks died.

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