(HELENA) Helena police say the shooting that left two people dead on the west side of town on Tuesday appears to be a murder-suicide.
Police responded to reports of a disturbance at a home on the 1100 block of Hauser Boulevard at around 6:30 p.m.
According to a statement from authorities on Wednesday morning, a birthday party was underway at the home of the woman when her estranged husband arrived.
Authorities say the man was present for a short time before he produced a handgun and ordered everyone out of the home, including the children and other adults.
Investigators say the man then followed the woman into the front yard and shot her before shooting himself.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
The names of the two people have not yet been released.
(TUESDAY, 9:20 p.m.) Two people have died after they were shot in the front yard of a Helena residence.
At around 6:30 p.m., the 911 center received several calls of a disturbance with shots fired at a residence in the 1100 block of Hauser Boulevard, according to the Helena Police Department.
Helena police and Lewis and Clark County deputies responded and found two people suffering from gunshot wounds in the yard of a home.
Medical units treated the male and female victims while officers checked residences and the area for additional victims.
Both the man and woman died from their wounds. They were both 37 years old and from Helena. The names of the victims have not yet been released.
Authorities do not believe there is a threat to the public.
We will update you when we get more information.
