An Escondido man appeared in court Thursday to face murder charges after two people were found dead inside a Ramona home in a military housing community earlier this week.

Ryan Proffitt, 33, was arrested on two counts of murder Monday evening in connection with the deadly shooting at the Ramona Vista housing complex, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office. On Thursday, he pleaded not guilty to those charges.

Deputies first responded to the complex, which is managed by Liberty Military Housing, for a reported shooting around 8:45 p.m. Monday, SDSO said. Upon arrival,

Proffitt was at the steps of the residence drinking a beer, prosecutors said.

“The defendant had called 911, saying that he had been a lovers’ quarrel and that police needed to respond because both parties were dead,” Deputy District Attorney Miriam Shoval said.

Inside the home, deputies discovered Courtney Chandler, 27, slumped on the couch and Nicolas McClure, 27, in the hallway, prosecutors said. Both were suffering from significant traumatic injuries and were pronounced dead by paramedics.

Prosecutors say Chandler worked for the Navy, and while officers were working the scene, one of her coworkers approached them to tell them he’d been ordered to come and check on her.

“Chandler had sent a text message at 8:34 p.m. So shortly before the 911 call stating, ‘Hey, he’s got a gun. I need you,'” Shoval said.

In his police statement, Proffitt said he and Chandler had been dating for a little more than a year. They recently decided to open their relationship, and Chandler started dating McClure.

Proffitt said McClure was homeless, and Chandler brought him home to live with them about two weeks before their murders. According to prosecutors, Proffitt also said he got jealous of the attention that his girlfriend was giving McClure and decided to confront them while hiding a gun.

“According to the defendant, he was told that if he was going to be like this, he should just get the f— out of the house. At which point McClure charged him and the defendant shot McClure three times. He then turned the gun on the victim,” Shoval said.

Shoval says both victims’ families are distraught right now.

If convicted, Proffitt could spend the rest of his life in prison or face the death penalty.