2 women shot to death at Detroit senior center

Updated 10:35 a.m. ET

DETROIT A man who lives at a senior center in Detroit was in custody Sunday after, police said, he shot and killed two women he blamed for a breakup with his girlfriend.

The shooting happened after the 65-year-old man had an argument with his girlfriend that ended their relationship, police said in a news release. They said the man went to his apartment at the Pablo Davis Elder Living Center, got a rifle and started looking for two residents he believed responsible for breaking him and his girlfriend up.

Police spokeswoman Kelly Miner said he shot the first woman, who was 54, as she sat on a bench outside the apartment building. Miner said he then went inside and shot the second woman, who was 65.

Miner said the suspect, whose name was not immediately released, surrendered and was arrested as he came back out of the building.

The first woman who was shot was pronounced dead at a hospital, while the second woman died at the scene, according to the police release. Their names were not immediately made public.

Miner said the center was evacuated and residents were moved to a police bus while officers searched the building to make sure there were no other victims.

"I didn't see the rifle until he got right on top of us," Paul Fratangelo, who said he witnessed the shooting, told The Detroit News. "I said, 'Oh, my God ...' He said, 'Get on the ground and start praying."'

"It was the grace of God that he didn't shoot me. I really thought he was going to shoot me. I thought it was over. Instead, he shot both my friends."

It's not clear how many people live at the senior center. Officials there did not immediately return a phone call from the AP seeking comment. Miner said the building has about 80 apartment units.