Virginia Police Investigating Murder-Suicide

Man shot woman, self around 6 a.m. or 7 a.m. Saturday

Police in Prince William County, Va., are investigating a murder-suicide.

A Robert Bates, 42, shot his 38-year-old wife, Jennifer Bates, and then turned the gun on himself around 7:30 a.m. Saturday in the 15700 block of Widewater Drive in Montclair, police said.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife was rushed to a hospital where she later died.

The couple was arguing in a car, and when it escalated, the man stopped on a cul-de-sac and pulled a handgun and shot himself and his wife outside of the car.

Police went to the couple's Nokesville home on June 26 because of a domestic disturbance. Robert Bates was arrested for domestic assault and battery and both were served with emergency protection orders, which barred contact between them. The EPO had expired and no extension had been filed.

Stay with News4 and NBCWashington.com as we continue to bring you updates on this story.

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