By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
SOUTHGATE – Investigators continued piecing together the deaths of a husband and wife in an apparent murder-suicide inside a gymnastics club Monday.
Police reportedly received an emergency call at 9:15 a.m. from Downriver Gymnastics, at Eureka and Trenton roads. No one was said to have spoken, but sounds of an argument could be heard in the background.
Responding officers found two people dead from what appeared to be gunshot wounds: Wendy Schirrick, 54, and 53-year-old Paul Schirrick, both of Dearborn. Investigators located a handgun at the scene while collecting evidence.
The couple – reportedly undergoing divorce proceedings – were the only people in the gym, where Wendy Schirrick had been an employee. A manager met police at the scene, where the couple were soon pronounced dead.
Preliminary reports indicated that Paul Schirrick shot his wife before turning the weapon on himself. There had reportedly been instances of domestic complaints involving the couple, who had recently begun divorce proceedings.
Staff at Downriver Gymnastics declined to comment Tuesday.
(James Mitchell can be reached at [email protected].)