Murder-suicide of Dallas couple follows break-up

By MARCUS K. GARNER

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Dallas police are investigating a domestic murder-suicide.

Police said Brad Armstrong, 35, shot and killed his 22-year-old ex-girlfriend Heather McCarthy after the couple had broken up. Then Armstrong fatally shot himself.

Officers responded around 4:30 p.m. Thursday to a report of the bodies being found at the Merchants Courts apartments, police spokesman Sgt. Bill Gorman said.

The couple had been together for about a year until McCarthy ended the relationship two weeks ago, Gorman said.

Relatives told police the Armstrong was physically abusive, and had attacked McCarthy days before the breakup. Gorman said police have no reports of domestic violence between the couple.

“She drove him to Tennessee and left him with a friend,” Gorman said. “He came home today.”

Gorman said McCarthy’s relatives urged her to go to the police the last time the Armstrong attacked her.

“Had she done that, this might have been avoided today,” Gorman said.