North Attleboro motel scene of apparent murder-suicide

Posted in Related Deaths

1-17-2010 Massachusetts:

NORTH ATTLEBORO - A man and a woman are dead after an apparent murder-suicide at a Route 1 motel this morning.

Police say they went to the Pineapple Motor Inn about 9:30 a.m. to execute an arrest warrant at Room 27 and, after knocking on the door, heard gunshots.

The Bristol County District Attorney's office says the 23-year-old man inside apparently shot the 20-year-old woman and then himself. Police had gone to the motel to arrest the man on a rape charge.

Authorities are not identifying the victims pending notification of family. They did, however, say one of the victims was a Seekonk resident. ..Source.. by STU SKERKER/FOR THE SUN CHRONICLE AND MICHAEL GELBWASSER/SUN CHRONICLE STAFF

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Police release names of victims in apparent North Attleboro murder-suicide

NORTH ATTLEBORO - Police this morning released the names of the victims in what police say was an apparent murder-suicide in a room at the Pineapple Inn on Route 1 Sunday.

Investigators believe Jose Vidal Jr., 23, of Seekonk, shot his girlfriend, Ashley Purdy, 20, of Attleboro, before turning the gun on himself around 9:30 a.m. Sunday as police responded to the motel to serve an arrest warrant for Vidal, North Attleboro Police Chief Michael P. Gould Sr. said.

Gould said police heard two gun shots in quick succession from inside the room after officers knocked on the door and announced themselves.

The couple had checked into the room on Friday and both left notes to family and loved ones indicating they were despondent, according to police.

State police and a state police SWAT team arrived to assist local police. Once police were able to enter the room they found the couple in bed. Both were shot in the head, according to police. Purdy was pronounced dead at the scene and Vidal was later pronounced dead at Rhode Island Hospital.

Gould said police have no motive for the incident.

Vidal was wanted on a superior court warrant for a 2007 rape in Seekonk. Police responded to the motel after learning Vidal was staying there.

Vidal was classified as a Level 2 sex offender and on probation for indecent assault and battery when Seekonk police arrested him Aug. 10 for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl in Seekonk, The Sun Chronicle reported at the time.

Vidal had pleaded innocent to the charges. ..Source..