New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office (NHCSO) has released further details regarding a tragic domestic violence incident that occurred Sunday morning in Castle Hayne, North Carolina.
Deputies responded to a residence on Bowman Drive around 9:00 a.m. on April 7 following reports of multiple gunshots.
Upon arrival, law enforcement discovered 35-year-old Aurora Rosendo-Ortega deceased from an apparent gunshot wound.
Inside the home, deputies also located 18-year-old Santiago Pacheco-Rosendo, who was suffering from a non-life-threatening gunshot injury.
He was transported to Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center for treatment and has since been released.
During a continued search of the residence, deputies found Avelino Jaimes-Acuna with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
He was also transported to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
According to the NHCSO, the investigation determined that Avelino Jaimes-Acuna forcibly entered the home and fatally shot Aurora Rosendo-Ortega before turning the weapon on himself.
The incident has been classified as a murder-suicide driven by domestic violence.
Authorities confirmed that Jaimes-Acuna and Ortega had previously been in a relationship.
In a statement, NHCSO said:
“Avelino Jaimes-Acuna broke into the home and murdered Aurora Rosendo-Ortega before taking his own life. Santiago Pacheco-Rosendo was shot while attempting to intervene and help Aurora Rosendo-Ortega.”
The sheriff’s office continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and encourages anyone affected by domestic violence to seek help from local resources.