WEST JORDAN, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Police say two women were shot in West Jordan Wednesday morning in an apparent murder-suicide attempt.
According to officials, 53-year-old Mary Hansen shot her 18-year-old daughter Virginia at 8366 South 1320 West and then shot herself in the head.
Police say the mother left the home in a car after shooting herself, drove a short distance and honked her horn. Police said that a neighbor responded to the horn, saw the woman covered in blood, and called 911 to report the incident.
Police said the woman then drove back to the home, parked in the driveway and waited for emergency personnel to arrive inside the home.
The mother was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.
"She's in serious condition and expected to recover," says Sgt. Drew Sanders of the West Jordan police department. "We will be seeking prosecution."
According to one neighbor, the family had not lived in the home for very long. The neighbor said the daughter had enrolled at a local high school, but had dropped out.
"My impression was that they were very lonely," says neighbor Ron Webb. "They didn't know anybody. They bought the house and the girl dropped out of school. They stayed in the house pretty much holed up."
Another woman claiming to know the couple says the family had financial and health troubles, and that they kept to themselves.
"I think she had so much on her plate," says Audrey Orrillo. "She had health problems. She was in fear of losing her home. It's all she and her daughgter have."
She says the mother was a single parent and didn't have a job and were relying on social security. As for the 18 year old daughter, Orrillo says she had dropped out of middle school but was taking classes on line.
"She was very shy," says Orrillo. "We'd go visit them and she would remain in her room, she wouldn't come out even for us."
Some neighbor speculate whether the mother and daughter who were inseperable made a pact to end their lives.
But Orrillo finds that hard to believe.
"Her daughter means everything to her," Orrillo says. "I can't imagine she would be able to do that. It's just so shocking."
Police said they located a gun inside the home.
