Investigators have released new details about the deaths of Mark Morris, 41, and Annette Torres, 36.
BERGENFIELD - A dispute between a couple who lived together with their 11-year-old son turned violent last Friday with the man shooting the woman to death before killing himself, authorities said Monday night.
Investigators have released new details about the deaths of Mark Morris, 41, and Annette Torres, 36, inside their home at 268 West Clinton Ave.
"Morris and Torres had an altercation during the afternoon (or) evening hours of March 18," Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal said in a statement Monday.
During the encounter, Morris shot and killed Torres, Grewal said.
Torres then shot and killed himself, the prosecutor said.
"After a complete analysis conducted by the Bergen County Medical Examiner, Torres' death has been ruled a homicide as a result of a gunshot wound," the prosecutor said. "The medical examiner further determined the manner of Morris' death a suicide as a result of a gunshot wound."
Detectives found two handguns inside the home - a .25-caliber and a 9 mm, according to the statement.
Investigators with the Bergen County Sheriff's Ballistics Unit are examining the weapons, the prosecutor said.
After finding the bodies, the child - identified only as M.M. - ran to a neighbor's home for help.
The neighbor called police at 10:22 a.m. to report the boy said his parents were "not breathing."
Officers forced their way into the home, where they found Morris in the basement and Torres in the upstairs bedroom.
Bergenfield police have not responded to requests for further information about the couple, including whether police had been called to the home in the past.
Authorities are caring for the child, Grewal has said.
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.