Two found dead in Portland apartment

Here is a press release from the Portland Police Bureau:

This morning, Friday February 4, 2011, at approximately 3:18 a.m., Portland Police responded to the report of two people shot at 15810 Northeast Sandy Boulevard, Apartment #1.

Arriving officers established containment around the apartment and heard what they thought was an additional gunshot inside the apartment.

The Special Emergency Reaction Team along with Hostage Negotiators responded to the scene and at just before 5:00 a.m., made entry into the apartment. The SERT officers discovered a deceased adult female and a deceased adult male inside the apartment, the result of an apparent murder/suicide.

An autopsy has been conducted by the Oregon State Medical Examiner on both people and it was determined that both died of single gunshot wounds.

Based on the detectives investigation, it appears that 48-year-old Larry Vernard Bell, a resident of the apartment, shot and killed his girlfriend, 21-year-old Heather Elaine Rogers, then turned the gun on himself. Bell and Rogers also worked together at a Portland-area adult entertainment establishment.

Detectives could not establish a prior domestic violence history between Bell and Rogers and it is not known where Rogers resided. A firearm was recovered at the crime scene.