MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A man and a woman were found shot to death in an Apple Valley parking lot Saturday morning, police say. Two children are now orphaned as it appears to be a murder-suicide.

Apple Valley police were called to South Cedar Knolls Apartment Complex at 12790 Germane Avenue at 8:37 a.m. Saturday on a report of multiple gun shots being fired in the parking lot.

After arriving, officers started medical assistance, but the man and woman died at the scene. The 41-year-old female was a resident of the apartment complex and the 41-year-old male was a Dakota County resident. The identities of those involved are being withheld until family has been notified.

The children are in protective custody and police don’t know if the man and woman were married or not, or divorced.

“It’s just tragic when we hear about these kinds of incidents, where people find it necessary to escalate to this level of violence,” said Apple Valley Police Chief Jon Rechtzigel.

A weapon was also found near the bodies.

At this time, police believe no one else is involved, and that there is no further threat to public safety.

The investigation is ongoing and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is assisting the Apple Valley Police Department.

The bodies of both individuals will be transported to the Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner’s Office in Hastings for examination, autopsy and identification.