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Nov 1, 2018

Polk County Sheriff's Office investigating murder-suicide in Lakeland

Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO

 Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office responded to a fatal domestic violence call at 2336 10th Street West in Lakeland at around 5:44 P.M. Wednesday, October 31, 2018. 

When they arrived, it was determined that 40-year-old Antero Araujo Quintana had shot his wife, 42-year-old Beatriz Araujo, then shot himself. Araujo Quintana was pronounced dead at the scene, Mrs. Araujo was critically injured, and transported to Lakeland Regional Health Center where she later died.

According to the preliminary investigation, the shooting was witnessed by the couple's 21-year-old son. The two other children were waiting in the family truck during an argument between the couple in the house, and did not witness the shootings.

Deputies found Mrs. Araujo in the kitchen area with gunshot wounds in the abdomen and head. Araujo Quintana was nearby in the living room, deceased, with a gunshot wound in the head. The gun used was a .380-caliber handgun.

"It's absolutely heartbreaking that these children will have this awful memory of a day that should have been filled with good memories. For the rest of us, it's a sad reminder of the human tragedy of domestic violence."-Grady Judd, Sheriff.

According to the witness, the couple had been arguing for several days and were preparing to take their children Trick-or-Treating when their last argument began.