Woman killed in Cottage Grove murder-suicide had feared estranged husband: 'She was very afraid' '(W/VIDEO)

Police on Friday identified the woman and man who died in a Thursday afternoon murder-suicide at a Cottage Grove strip mall and said the man had threatened the woman before.

Police Chief Craig Woolery said Chevel Charles Richard, 22, of Eagan, shot his estranged wife, Tensia Marie Richard, 22, of Cottage Grove, after a brief conversation outside of the Anytime Fitness club. Tensia had been in the club.

Woolery said Chevel chased and shot at Tensia with a .45-caliber high point handgun as she ran into a nearby Jimmy John's restaurant, where he shot her again and then shot himself in the head. She died at the scene. He died Thursday evening at Regions Hospital.

The Richards have two young children together; they are being cared for by Tensia's parents, Woolery said.

The Richards were legally married but had separated within the past two weeks, said detective Sgt. Randy McAlister of the Cottage Grove Police Department.

"That's obviously a trigger" for the incident, McAlister said, noting that there may have been a build-up of behavioral issues over time.

Tensia was living with her parents and seeking a divorce.

Police had been called for a domestic incident involving the two before.

Chevel was arrested in June 2011 and later convicted of fifth-degree domestic assault after threatening Tensia, McAlister said.

"She was very afraid he was going to hurt her," McAlister said.

Chevel was placed on probation. Tensia received an order for protection against Chevel four days after the domestic assault; it was dismissed Aug. 22, 2011.

Chevel met his probation conditions July 20 of this year.

McAlister said a multi-page, handwritten note was found at Chevel's Eagan apartment when police executed a search warrant there after the shooting.

"It's a long, rambling note about his difficulties with life," McAlister said.

The Bulletin attempted to contact the parents of Tensia Richard. A man who answered the door at their Cottage Grove home said the family was not talking with media.

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