Officials: HFD firefighter, woman found dead in Kingwood area

HOUSTON -- Police say an HFD firefighter and a woman were found dead in an apparent murder-suicide inside a Kingwood-area home.

The discovery was made near Lake Prince Lake at Smith Lake in the Waters Edge neighborhood.

Houston police say the woman was supposed to pick up her child but never showed up, so a concerned family member stopped by the house around 6:45pm. The relative found the female's body in a bathroom close to the front door and immediately called police.

A witness says police entered the home cautiously.

"They had their guns out and they were going to go bust the door down to see what's going on. It was scary for us because we just barely moved here a year ago so we're like in shock," neighbor Vanessa Romero said.

Houston police say they've determined that the firefighter, who's been identified as Richard C. Deluna, fatally stabbed the woman and then hanged himself in a bedroom. Police say there appeared to have been a struggle in the home.

The Houston Firefighters Association says Deluna was assigned to HFD Station 45. Late Thursday, it issued the following statement:

"Houston fire fighters mourn the off-duty death tonight of Houston fire fighter Richard C. Deluna, who was a member of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association, IAFF Local 341. Our organization will strive to help support his brothers and sisters in the fire service, his family and his friends in this difficult time. Please keep his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers as answers are sought after this inexplicable tragedy."

Police say Deluna and the woman weren't married.

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