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Two Teen Girls, Reportedly a Couple, Die in Murder-Suicide

Two Teen Girls, Reportedly a Couple, Die in Murder-Suicide

Independence High School
Students mourn the deaths of two schoolmates at Independence High.

The two were sophomores at Independence High School in Glendale, Ariz.

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Two girls who died in an apparent murder-suicide at an Arizona high school today were in a romantic relationship, according to local media reports.

May Kieu and Dorothy Dutiel, both 15-year-old sophomores at Independence High School in Glendale, each died of a single gunshot wound about 8 a.m. just outside the school's cafeteria, reports Phoenix TV station KPHO. Glendale police did not immediately release their names, but friends identified the students in social media posts and in interviews with the station.

Police did release a statement saying the teens had been in a relationship and that one shot the other before turning the gun on herself, The Arizona Republic reports. Several students also told KPHO the girls had been dating for some time and may have been breaking up. Police have not said which one did the shooting, but they found a suicide note at the scene, and their investigation continues.

May Kieu's sister Phuong Kieu, a teacher at Independence High, described the girls' relationship differently in an interview with Phoenix TV station KNXV. She said May and the other girl, whom Phuong Kieu did not name, were longtime friends, but the other girl wanted to go beyond friendship and was jealous when May spent time away from her.

May was an honor student, a member of the badminton team, and vice president of the Key Club, Phuong Kieu told the Republic. She also had the role of Marcie in the school production of the musical You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.

"She was a smart girl," Phuong added to KNXV. "She was a good person. She tried her best."

Independence High junior J.C. Robertson spoke well of the two girls. "They were both amazing people," he told the Republic. He and fellow students were deeply shaken, he added. "I walked home crying my eyes out," he said.

The school went into lockdown right after the shooting, and then students and staff were evacuated. The district made crisis counselors available.

The girls will be memorialized at a candlelight vigil at the school at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Watch both TV stations' reports below.

azfamily.com 3TV | Phoenix Breaking News, Weather, Sport

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Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.
Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.