Police Suspect Murder-Suicide

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By Tom Jackman

Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, November 2, 2007; Page B06

Two men were found fatally shot in a Fairfax County apartment complex late Wednesday night, and police said yesterday that they are investigating the case as a possible murder-suicide.

The men's names were not released because of problems confirming their identities, Officer Don Gotthardt said. The first man was found on the second-floor landing outside an apartment in the 6800 block of Brindle Heath Way in the Kingstowne area, shortly after 10:30 p.m. Police began looking for a suspect and advised residents to stay inside.

Police set up a perimeter around the complex and sent tactical officers, search dogs and negotiators in, while a police helicopter assisted in the search.

After another gunshot was reported inside the complex, police focused on an apartment and began trying to make contact with the person inside, but there was no response, Gotthardt said. Tactical officers eventually entered the apartment and discovered a second man inside. He was dead with an apparent gunshot wound to the upper torso, Gotthardt said.

Gotthardt said he had no information on the relationship between the two men or why the shootings occurred.