A mother and her daughter were killed in a double-shooting in their New Jersey home on Wednesday, in what authorities believe to be a targeted incident.
The bodies of Marisol Nunez, 54, and Catherine Nunez, 33, were discovered by police responding to a 4 a.m. call about a home invasion in Willingboro, law enforcement said Thursday.
The victims were found shot in an upstairs bedroom of their house in the Hawthorn Park neighborhood. Both women were declared dead at the scene.
Authorities said autopsies later determined both women died from those gunshot wounds.
“The preliminary investigation revealed that entry was made through a first-floor window that had apparently been broken by the intruder(s), who fled before police arrived,” officials said. “It is believed this was not a random incident.
No arrests had been made as of Thursday evening and it’s not clear if police have any suspects.
The Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office is working with the Willingboro Township Police Department. Cops are hoping for tips from the public that could lead to an arrest.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill earlier this month toughening the way prosecutors can deal with home invasions and burglaries. That legislation particularly makes it possible to charge teenagers more severely than in the past.
Wednesday morning’s shootings occurred about 20 miles north of Philadelphia.