Man shoots girlfriend, 10-year-old daughter in Hamilton murder-suicide: prosecutors

Community gathers to mourn mother, daughter killed in double murder-suicide

The Hamilton Township neighborhood is stunned over the tragedy and met outside the home with candles and balloons for a prayer vigil.

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. - Investigators in Mercer County believe a man shot and killed his girlfriend and her 10-year-old daughter before turning the gun on himself early Thursday morning.

The Hamilton Township neighborhood is stunned over the tragedy and met outside the home with candles and balloons for a prayer vigil.

What we know:

Officers from the Hamilton Police Department were called to a home on the 200 block of Henry Street around 4 a.m. Thursday.

Police found a man, woman and 10-year-old girl shot to death inside the property, authorities said.

Investigators determined that the man shot and killed his girlfriend and her 10-year-old daughter before fatally shooting himself.

Family identified the victims as 42-year-old Claribel Torres and her 10-year-old daughter Evangeline, who they called Beba.

A friend who knew the couple said they appeared to be happy. She worked at a local bar, was well-liked and active in the Dominican community.

Those who knew the victims are at a loss as to what triggered the violence.

What we don't know:

The man who was believed to have pulled the trigger has not been identified.