In a quiet Brooklyn neighborhood on a Monday morning, a tragedy unfolded inside a parked SUV, leaving a family shattered. Petula Myrtil, a 39-year-old woman of Guyanese descent, was found shot to death in what authorities have described as a murder-suicide. The incident occurred on March 9, 2020, in the Starrett City area of Brooklyn.
Reports from that day detail how police responded to calls of a shooting and discovered Petula and her husband, Andre Myrtil, inside a BMW SUV. Petula had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Her 49-year-old husband was found with a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound. Both were rushed to a nearby hospital where they were pronounced dead.
The preliminary investigation led police to believe that Andre Myrtil shot his wife before turning the gun on himself. A firearm was recovered from the vehicle. The couple, who lived in East Flatbush, were parents to two young children. Neighbors of the family expressed their shock, stating they had never witnessed any signs of trouble between the couple and that Andre was often seen taking their sons to school.
The motive behind the tragic event remains unclear. The investigation into the deaths of Petula and Andre Myrtil concluded that it was a domestic dispute that escalated to a devastating act of violence, leaving a community in mourning and two children without their parents. As the perpetrator died at the scene, there were no further arrests or suspects sought in connection with Petula Myrtil's death.
