Catherine Nunez, 33, and her mother, Marisol Nunez, 54, were discovered shot to death in their home in Willingboro, New Jersey, on October 30, 2024.

Police are actively searching for those responsible for the tragic murder of a mother and daughter found dead in their New Jersey home. Authorities have indicated that this was not a random act. NBC10’s Brian Sheehan spoke with neighbors who are devastated by the news.

The incident unfolded early Wednesday morning in the Hawthorne Park neighborhood of Willingboro, Burlington County. Police were dispatched to the 100 block of Harrington Circle shortly after 4 a.m. on October 30, following a report of a burglary in progress, according to the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office.

Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered the bodies of 33-year-old Catherine Nunez and her 54-year-old mother, Marisol Nunez, in an upstairs bedroom. Both women were pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators determined that entry to the home had been gained through a first-floor window, which had been broken by the intruder(s) who fled the scene before police arrived. Autopsies conducted by Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood confirmed that both victims died from gunshot wounds.

While officials believe this was a targeted incident, they do not think other residents in the neighborhood are at risk.

Several neighbors told NBC10 that Catherine had a young son who was also in the house during the tragic event. Charlee Harris, a neighbor, recounted, “We found out that the baby was underneath the bed while his mom got killed and the grandmom was already gone.”

The shockwaves from the incident have hit the neighborhood hard. “Everybody’s in shock to know that this happened,” said Royston Evans, another local resident. He added that the family had moved to the area from New York about two years ago and mostly kept to themselves. “She kept to herself. But she did talk, and she’d say hi,” Evans said of Catherine.

Neighbor Glenda Sprauve, who lives next door, was particularly shaken. “I couldn’t believe it. I just dropped. I immediately dropped,” she said, describing Catherine as kind-hearted and friendly, despite her quiet nature. Sprauve, visibly emotional, added, “She was cool, a very nice person. She was kind enough for me to break a tear or two and more. I couldn’t even sleep last night. It hurts. It hurts. And I feel so bad for her son.”

In response to the tragedy, neighbors are organizing a prayer service outside the family’s home on Harrington Circle this Friday evening, gathering to honor the victims and support their loved ones.