‘I think my neighbor was shot’: Port St. Lucie police release 911 call in weekend murder-suicide
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. —
Police in Port St. Lucie Wednesday released the emotional 911 call from a neighbor after a weekend murder-suicide at a home on Southeast Oxmoor Terrace.
“I need police. I think my neighbor … I think my neighbor was shot,” the caller said during the 911 call.
Authorities identified the victim as 50-year-old Elizabeth Ortega, a communications officer for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators believe Ortega was shot and killed by her longtime boyfriend, 50-year-old Ralph Varela Jr., who then shot and killed himself.
According to police, Ortega had recently ended their 30-year relationship, but the two were still living together while Varela searched for a new place to live.
The neighbor who called 911 said she had been in her backyard with her children when they heard the gunshots.
“You heard the gunshot?” the dispatcher asked.
“Multiple. There was, like, six of them. And I thought it was maybe on the other side of the street because we do have people that shoot off fireworks all the time. But this one made my house rattle,” the caller said.
When asked if she saw the gun, the caller responded, “No. We just heard it. We heard it a couple of minutes ago, and I made my kids come inside because it sounded really, really close.”
The caller said she did not know her neighbors’ names but mentioned she often heard them yelling.
“Her and her husband were fighting?” the dispatcher asked.
“I don’t know if they’re fighting. They’re just always cursing at each other,” the caller said.
Police arrived at the scene and began their investigation, which they are calling a murder-suicide.
If you or someone you know is in need of help, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24 hours a day at 800-799-SAFE.
Locally, 2-1-1 also provides resources around the clock.
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