Police said two young children were found unharmed after their father fled the scene and later died nearby.
MARANA, Ariz. — A 36-year-old Arizona woman was shot and killed outside her home while her two young children were nearby, authorities said, and the woman’s ex-husband later died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after fleeing the area in a vehicle with the children.
Investigators identified the woman as Mikaela Durfey and named her former husband, 37-year-old Brian Schnurr, as the suspected shooter in what police described as a murder-suicide investigation. Officers responded to reports of gunfire on the evening of May 25 in a residential neighborhood northwest of Tucson. The killings stunned neighbors and added to growing concerns in Arizona and across the country about domestic violence cases that escalate during separations and divorce proceedings.
Police said officers arrived around 5:05 p.m. at a home on West Alegria Drive in Marana after receiving reports of a shooting near the driveway. Responding officers found Durfey suffering from multiple gunshot wounds outside the residence. Emergency crews attempted life-saving measures at the scene, but she was pronounced dead before she could be taken to a hospital. Authorities said investigators quickly learned that Schnurr, Durfey’s ex-husband, had left the scene in a blue Dodge Challenger shortly after the shooting. According to police, the couple’s two children, both younger than 4, were believed to have been with him when he fled. Officers issued alerts for the vehicle while law enforcement agencies across the Tucson area began searching nearby roads and desert terrain.
Investigators later located the Dodge Challenger near North Silverbell Road with the children inside unharmed, police said. Officers removed the children safely and continued searching the surrounding area for Schnurr. Authorities said he was later found dead in a nearby desert location from what investigators believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Marana police said preliminary evidence indicates the shooting outside the home and Schnurr’s death are directly connected. Officials have not publicly discussed a possible motive or said whether there had been prior calls for service involving the couple. Court records show Durfey filed for divorce in July 2025. Police said detectives continue to review physical evidence, interview witnesses and examine electronic records connected to the case. Authorities also asked anyone who may have seen the suspect vehicle or has additional information to contact investigators.
Durfey worked as a licensed counselor, according to public professional records, while Schnurr was identified by authorities and local reports as a chiropractor practicing in the Tucson area. The shooting happened in a suburban neighborhood of Marana, a fast-growing community north of Tucson that has experienced significant residential development in recent years. Neighbors told local media they were shocked by the violence and described the area as typically quiet. Several residents reported seeing a large police presence shortly after the shooting and said officers closed streets while investigators processed the scene. Domestic violence experts have long warned that periods involving separation, custody disputes and divorce filings can become especially volatile. National studies examining intimate partner violence have found that access to firearms significantly increases the risk of fatal outcomes during domestic conflicts, though investigators in this case have not released details about the weapon used.
The investigation remains active as detectives work to reconstruct the timeline leading up to the shooting. Authorities have not announced whether any restraining orders, pending custody disputes or previous allegations existed before the attack. Police also have not said whether the children directly witnessed the shooting or provided statements to investigators. Because both the suspected gunman and the victim are dead, criminal charges are not expected, but detectives still must complete the case file and present findings to prosecutors for review under standard procedure. The Pima County medical examiner is expected to formally determine the causes and manners of death following autopsies. Police said investigators will continue collecting surveillance footage, phone records and witness accounts over the coming days. Officials have not released information about funeral arrangements or which family members are caring for the children.
Outside the neighborhood, yellow police tape and patrol vehicles marked the scene for hours as investigators moved between the driveway and nearby streets. Residents gathered quietly near sidewalks while officers photographed evidence and interviewed neighbors door-to-door. One nearby resident told local reporters the incident left many families shaken because children were involved. Another described hearing sirens and seeing emergency responders rush into the subdivision during the early evening. Friends and community members later shared tributes online remembering Durfey as a caring professional and devoted mother. Some posts described her work helping clients through difficult emotional situations and expressed disbelief at the circumstances surrounding her death. By Tuesday, investigators remained at several locations connected to the case as community members waited for additional details from police.
The case remained under investigation Wednesday, with authorities expected to continue reviewing evidence and conducting interviews in the days ahead. Police have not announced when additional findings may be released, but officials said the surviving children were found safe and remain in the care of family members and support services.