One woman and one man are dead following a murder-suicide in a townhouse complex on Watson Road in Chilliwack Thursday morning.

Chilliwack RCMP confirmed just before noon on April 15, that at 8:30 a.m., police responded to a report of shots fired at the residence, which is directly across from Watson elementary school.

Officers arrived at the scene where they found the woman suffering life-threatening injuries “consistent with a shooting,” and a man who had succumbed to his injuries.

A helicopter landing zone was set up in the school’s field, and paramedics transported the woman to hospital via Air Ambulance where she later died.

“Both parties were known to each other and there is no outstanding risk to public safety,” according to a Chilliwack RCMP statement on April 15.

Emergency crews were on scene all morning with a significant stretch of Watson Road blocked off. Police say the area will be cordoned off “for a significant amount of time.”

Watson elementary was in a hold-and-secure after 9 a.m. but police said no one was in imminent danger.

Chilliwack RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Krista Vrolyk explained that there was never any danger to anyone in the school, but the only reason the hold-and-secure was in place was because the school yard was used as a landing zone for the Air Ambulance.

Following the death of the victim, the investigation was handed over to RCMP’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT).

IHIT is involved because one of two deaths was a homicide, but spokesperson Sgt. Frank Jang confirmed that no other suspects are sought nor are any charges being recommended.

As for the name of either deceased individuals, IHIT policy is to only release the names when it’s a matter of public record (e.g. charges are laid) or if doing so will help further the investigation, Jang said.

“In this case, the two conditions don’t apply,” he said.

Jang said it would likely be the B.C. Coroners Service is also involved, and will likely lay out the circumstances of both deaths in a final report.

Although IHIT is not releasing the names of the victim or the alleged shooter, The Progress learned through a fundraiser for the woman’s daughter that the victim was Irina Marenkova.

Marenkova moved to Chilliwack from Russia with her daughter, Alisa Gusakova, in 2013.

On the weekend, a GoFundMe was set up for 17-year-old Gusakova, who is a Grade 12 student, and who has no relatives in Canada.

READ MORE: Fundraiser launched for daughter of Chilliwack woman killed

Police urge anyone with information to assist in this investigation to contact police at 604-792-4611 or, to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

RELATED: RCMP, coroner investigate murder-suicide on Salt Spring Island

RELATED: Police investigate triple murder-suicide north of Toronto

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Chilliwack Progress