State Police say say the death of a Richmond woman over the weekend was a domestic violence homicide. Detectives say Niomi Mello was shot to death by her long time boyfriend, Kirk Alexander Jr., who then turned the 9mm handgun on himself. Both were shot in the head. Families members were updated on the case Monday.
The bodies of the couple were found in the kitchen of their home Saturday morning by Mello’s 11-year-old son, after he awoke. The boy then went to a nearby store and police were called. The shooting likely took place late Friday night or early Saturday morning.
The two bodies found deceased inside of a Richmond home Saturday afternoon have been identified as Kirk Alexander Jr., 46, and his longtime girlfriend, Niomi Mello, 37.
Their cause of death still has not been released to the public.
Neighbors in the small community who knew the victims personally are already feeling their loss Sunday night.
Pastor Lester Dow Jr. and his wife, Mary, have been with the Richmond Corner Baptist Church for more than 15 years.
"Our neighbors, we care about them all,” Dow told NEWS CENTER Maine Sunday.
Something happened inside of their neighbors’ Post Road home Saturday, where police confirm Mello’s 11-year-old son found the couple’s bodies in the kitchen.
"Very sad thing and very tragic thing,” said Dow.
Though not close with his neighbor, Dow recalls seeing Alexander from time to time.
"Several years ago, we were back and forth some and I invited him over for coffee and we talked about the Lord's word and scripture,” said Dow. “I hadn’t seen him for a long while until just the day before this happened. Two days ago now. I had a little conversation. Everything seemed fine."
Standing inside his church Sunday afternoon, Dow now realizes everything may not have been fine.
He said Alexander was more than just his neighbor. He was the church's neighbor.
"I feel it personally but also folks in the area here and the church because they're right next door, you know, a neighbor in that sense to everybody,” exclaimed Dow. Dow plans to spend the next few days comforting the community, which is already feeling the gravity of this loss, while the police continue to investigate the couple's manner of death.
Autopsies have been completed by the State Medical Examiner’s office in Augusta and the results will be released Monday, according to state police.