Photo: CBS 12
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office says that the victim in a Port St. Lucie murder-suicide over the weekend was an emergency communications employee with the agency.
50-year-old Elizabeth Ortega worked dispatch for PBSO and had been in a more than 30-year relationship with Ralph Varela Senior, sharing an adult son with him.
Port St. Lucie Police say 50-year-old Varela shot Ortega inside the home while their son was out picking up dinner Saturday night. The man then continued shooting the victim as she ran outside, where she was found suffering by arriving officers. She would die later a the hospital.
Meanwhile, cops say Varela Sr. went back inside and turned the gun on himself.
Investigators say the couple's son has been cooperating with the investigation. According to police, he was aware that his parents were splitting up, but did not witness an argument or disturbance before leaving the home.
A GoFundMe page has been set up for Ralph Varela Jr., a firefighter/paramedic with Palm Beach County Fire Rescue to help him pay for funeral costs.