Man On No Contact Order With Wife Fatally Shoots Her Before Killing Self

A California man on a no-contact order with his wife has fatally shot her before killing himself.

The man, identified as 60-year-old Monty Bounds, and his wife, 58-year-old Julie Bounds, were found dead with a gunshot wound inside a multi-million dollar residence in Madera Ranchos Tuesday, The Fresno Bee reported.

Officials believe the incident must have happened between Monday night and Tuesday morning after Julie came back home from dinner outside, as her car was still parked out front of the house.

The couple was married for around 10 years. Deputies said they have responded to the residence three times since October on complaints of domestic disturbances, according to Your Central Valley.

Prior to the incident, Monty was arrested on Oct. 30. Officials seized a firearm from the residence and issued an emergency protection order against him. He was arrested again the following day for violating the order.

Monty remained on a no-contact order with his wife and was banned from owning guns after he was released from jail on Nov. 4. However, he managed to obtain a handgun that was not registered to him and executed the fatal shootings, Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue reportedly said.

"Everyone has the basic human right to live in safety and free from violence and abuse. MCSO [Madera County Sheriff's Office] is committed to working with victims and local allied agencies to offer support and resources for those in domestic violence relationships," Pogue said in a news release Wednesday. "This was a tragic outcome of a frightful situation. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victim as they mourn the loss of their loved one."

Meanwhile, officials said they were interviewing witnesses to determine the exact timeline of the events and understand the circumstances surrounding the incident.

"Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact the Madera County Sheriff's Office at (559) 675-7770," the news release said.

"If you or someone you love is in an unhealthy relationship, we encourage you to reach out to our partners at the Community Action Partnership of Madera County at their 24/7 Victim Crisis Hotline: 1 (800) 355-8989 for help," it added.

If you have thoughts of suicide, confidential help is available for free at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 1-800-273-8255. The line is available 24 hours a day.