El Paso police are investigating what they believe to be a murder-suicide after the bodies of a man and woman were discovered inside a home on the far East Side early Tuesday morning. Authorities have since identified the individuals as 58-year-old Jose Urrieta and his wife, 58-year-old Lourdes Urrieta.

According to a news release from the El Paso Police Department, officers were dispatched to the 11800 block of Chelita Drive around 8:50 a.m. on Tuesday, August 26, after receiving a request for a welfare check.

Concern had grown among those close to the couple who had reportedly been unable to reach them. Upon entering the home, officers made the grim discovery: both Jose and Lourdes were dead.

Investigators reported that Jose Urrieta was found with a gunshot wound to his head. Detectives from the Crimes Against Persons Unit believe he shot his wife, Lourdes, before turning the weapon on himself. Authorities have not disclosed whether the couple’s deaths were immediately reported by family, neighbors, or another concerned party.

In a statement, police confirmed that Lourdes Urrieta has been identified as the victim in the case. Her tragic death has left family, friends, and neighbors shaken, with many struggling to make sense of the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Police officials emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing and that no additional details regarding motive or the events leading up to the tragedy have been made public.

The El Paso Medical Examiner’s Office is conducting autopsies and finalizing its portion of the investigation to confirm the cause and manner of death. Police have not indicated whether the firearm involved has been recovered or whether there were any prior reports of domestic disturbances at the residence.

The Chelita Drive neighborhood remained quiet on Tuesday afternoon, though several residents expressed shock as word spread. Some described the Urrietas as longtime residents of the community who mostly kept to themselves.

Others said they were heartbroken to learn that the couple’s lives had ended so violently. “It’s so sad, so close to home,” one neighbor said. “You never expect something like this to happen right next door.”

Law enforcement officials are urging the public to be mindful of the signs of domestic stress and to seek help if they or someone they know may be in danger. While they did not speculate on the motive in this case, officials stressed the importance of intervention and resources in preventing tragedies like this one.

For now, the focus remains on completing the investigation and providing answers to the family and community members grieving the loss of Lourdes and Jose Urrieta. Police stated that no further information will be released until detectives conclude their review of evidence and the Medical Examiner’s findings are finalized.

The deaths of Jose and Lourdes Urrieta add to the growing number of domestic-related fatalities across the region, underscoring the devastating ripple effects of violence within the home.