Authorities in Alabama say a child therapist fatally shot the mother of one of his young patients before turning the gun on himself this week.

According to AL.com, 43-year-old Jonathan Neil Coffman and 36-year-old Sunshine Price Pauly were found dead outside of the woman’s residence in Monrovia.

The victim reportedly contacted authorities to report an armed person on her property about 10 minutes before authorities arrived and found both individuals dead.

Madison County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Donny Shaw described the incident as “clearly a murder-suicide.”

Investigators do not know what the motive for the violent crime was, but say Coffman had provided therapy to Pauly’s 7-year-old son.

The boy was reportedly at home at the time of the shooting.

Though he worked with the Arc of Madison County, the organization said his work as a therapist in this instance was not affiliated with its mission.

In a statement acknowledging the incident, the Arc wrote that it is “deeply saddened to hear of these tragic events.”

After confirming it “was not providing any services to the victim’s family,” the Arc wrote that it seeks “to provide space for the authorities to investigate this matter and for the families to grieve.”

[Featured image: Pixabay]