In High Point, North Carolina, the life of 20-year-old Julissa Duarte was cut tragically short in what police have described as a domestic-related murder-suicide. Concern grew when friends and family had not heard from Julissa for several days, prompting a call to the High Point 911 non-emergency number for a welfare check on the evening of Thursday, May 28, 2026. Officers were dispatched to the Eastchester Ridge Apartments on Chester Ridge Drive to locate her. After arriving and receiving no answer at the door, a look through a window revealed a person lying on the floor inside.
Forced to make entry into the apartment, the officers discovered a grim scene. Both Julissa Duarte and 22-year-old Kevin Sanchez, also of High Point, were found deceased inside the residence. Both had sustained fatal gunshot wounds. Investigators from the High Point Police Department's Violent Crimes Unit responded to process the scene. The preliminary findings of the investigation pointed towards a murder-suicide. It is believed that Sanchez, with whom Duarte had previously been in a dating relationship, fatally shot her before turning the gun on himself. The North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner was tasked with determining the exact time and official cause of death for both individuals.
The investigation concluded that this was a domestic-related homicide, the sixth such criminal homicide in the City of High Point for that year. Since the sole suspect, Kevin Sanchez, died at the scene, there were no arrests or subsequent criminal proceedings. The case highlights the tragic consequences of domestic violence. In the aftermath, local organizations like the Guilford County Family Justice Center reiterated the availability of support and resources for those experiencing domestic abuse, sexual assault, and other forms of violence, providing a crucial reminder of the help available to prevent similar tragedies.
