THE St Andrew North police were yesterday piecing together evidence that could lead to the motive behind a murder and suicide which took place at Waterworks in St Andrew early yesterday morning and sent shockwaves throughout the financial sector where the couple worked.

Police report that Karla Chito, 40 and her 59-year-old husband Everett were at their Broadway Avenue home about 12:30 Saturday morning when they became embroiled in a heated argument. Everett Chito reportedly pulled his licensed firearm and shot his wife several times before shooting himself.

He died on the spot, but his wife succumbed to her injuries at the University Hospital.

Homicide investigators from the St Andrew North Police Division who went to the scene seized Chito’s .38 Smith and Wesson revolver.

Karla Chito’s death has left two daughters, aged 20 and 14, motherless.

She was a personal portfolio manager at the Haughton Avenue headquarters of Jamaica Money Market Brokers (JMMB) and her murder came as a great shock to her co-workers.

Yesterday, JMMB Group Marketing Manager Imani Duncan said if the couple had problems at home Karla Chito never showed any signs at work.

“Karla was always very engaging. Maybe some people can hide things, but there was no sign of trouble,” Duncan told the Sunday Observer.

Karla Chito was employed with JMMB for four-and-a-half years and her death stung fellow employee Kisha Anderson, the personal and corporate client services manager at JMMB.

“Our hearts go out to Karla’s two children, family and close friends at the tragic and untimely passing of a woman so full of life and possibilities,” Anderson said in a release to the media. “We will continue to provide love and support to her loved ones and team members as it’s important to look after family in difficult times.”

Everett Chito was the manager for the New Kingston branch of First Global Bank and the vice-president of the Jamaica National Heritage Trust.

Yesterday, a source who claimed to know the couple tried to understand the reason for his actions.

“He was a very quiet guy but he is known to be possessive,” the source said.

One of his co-workers described Chito as very affable and expressed shock at the event. “He was a very nice person, very jovial. I never saw him get angry,” said the co-worker. “He always got along well with people, so that’s why it is such a shock.”

Everett Chito was the father of three children.