A North Carolina community is mourning the heartbreaking loss of 20-year-old Julissa Duarte and 22-year-old Kevin Sanchez, who were found dead Thursday night inside an apartment in High Point in what authorities are investigating as a domestic-related murder-suicide.
According to the High Point Police Department, officers responded to Eastchester Ridge Apartments on Chester Ridge Drive after receiving a request for a welfare check. Concerned individuals reported they had not heard from Duarte for several days, prompting authorities to visit the residence.
When officers arrived at the apartment, they reportedly received no response at the door. Police then looked through a window and observed a person lying on the floor inside the residence. Authorities forced entry into the apartment and discovered Duarte and Sanchez deceased from apparent gunshot wounds.
Investigators said preliminary findings indicate Sanchez fatally shot Duarte before turning the weapon on himself. Officials also confirmed the two had previously been involved in a dating relationship. The incident is currently being investigated as a domestic-related homicide.
The North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the exact cause and time of death for both individuals.
The tragic deaths of Julissa Duarte and Kevin Sanchez have left loved ones, friends, and members of the High Point community in shock as they struggle to process the devastating loss. Julissa is being remembered as a young woman whose life was cut tragically short, leaving behind grieving family members and those who cared deeply for her. Kevin Sanchez’s death has also left loved ones mourning a life lost in heartbreaking circumstances.
As the investigation continues, community organizations are also reminding victims and survivors of domestic violence that help and support services remain available. The Guilford County Family Justice Center stated that assistance is offered for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, and child abuse.
High Point, located in Guilford County within North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad region, now joins countless communities across the country mourning lives lost to domestic violence tragedies.
Family members, friends, and the community continue to hold Julissa Duarte and Kevin Sanchez in their thoughts and prayers during this heartbreaking time.
