WATERBURY, Conn. (WTNH) — The man accused of shooting and killing his estranged wife and wounding their son in a domestic dispute early Tuesday morning in Waterbury died by suicide in Virginia, authorities said.
Waterbury police were searching for Soloman O.G. Roberts Sr., 44, of Indian Land, South Carolina, after he allegedly killed Catherine Roberts, 45, and wounded their son, Soloman Roberts Jr., 19, inside a home on Mark Lane around 5 a.m. Tuesday.
Catherine Roberts was pronounced dead on scene, and her son was taken to a hospital, where he is in stable condition, police said.
Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said Roberts Sr. took off before officers arrived. The suspect has a lengthy criminal record, including seven arrests in recent years.
“The party [suspect] was a convicted felon and had a strong domestic history within the household,” Spagnolo said.
Waterbury police said investigators were notified by Virginia State Police Tuesday afternoon that Roberts Sr. had been seen traveling through Rockingham County in the vehicle that he left Waterbury in.
Troopers in Virginia conducted a traffic stop, and shortly thereafter, authorities said they found Roberts Sr. dead in his Mitsubishi Outlander from one self-inflicted gunshot wound.
“Officers attempted to communicate with Roberts, and as they approached the
vehicle, they heard the sound of a single gunshot coming from inside the vehicle,” a statement from Virginia State Police read. “Rescue was requested to respond to the scene. Further investigation confirmed Roberts had fired a single round and succumbed to the injury almost immediately. A firearm was recovered from inside the vehicle.”
No law enforcement discharged their firearms during their encounter with Roberts Sr., according to authorities in Virginia.
Waterbury police are still investigating the double shooting, while Virginia State Police are investigating the suicide.
The video below is from a newscast on March 7, 2023.
