Two women were found dead from gunshot wounds Tuesday night in an Estate Smithfield home, in what investigators are calling a murder-suicide, the V.I. Police Department reported.

Police had not released the names of the victims Wednesday morning, pending verification and notification of next of kin.

It was the 10th homicide in the territory since the beginning of the year, the fourth on St. Croix.

Police were notified of the deaths a few minutes before 11 p.m. Tuesday by a man who told police that he and one of the deceased women have been in a relationship for the last four months.

The man told detectives from the Criminal Investigation Bureau his girlfriend went to collect some of her belongings from her former girlfriend’s home in Estate Smithfield, but hadn’t returned by 9 p.m. He went to the former girlfriend’s home and was able to look inside and saw the two women, unresponsive.

He then called the police.

According to the preliminary police report, both women suffered gunshot wounds. A firearm was found on the scene. Police said the home was locked and there was no sign of forced entry.

The victims were 43 and 56 years of age.

The case is under investigation by the Criminal Investigation Bureau detectives. Anyone with any information regarding this case is urged to call detectives at 712- 6077, 712-6037, 911 or you can call Crime Stoppers USVI at 1-800-222-TIPS.