CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg police have charged a man in the shooting of his ex-girlfriend and her co-worker, who were both found dead inside the woman’s home early Tuesday.

Jacquece Forest, 28, is charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of Jennifer Smith and Luc Eric Gonzalez. Both Smith and Gonzalez were 25.

Smith, who was originally from the Siler City area, called police to tell them she thought she had seen her ex-boyfriend in the woods behind her house. Officers searched the area, but didn't find Forest or anything else suspicious.

About two hours later, officers pulled over Forest for speeding, police said. He fled on foot to an apartment but was captured and taken to a hospital for treatment. There, he allegedly told staff he had shot his girlfriend.

Capt. Nick Pellicone said officers went to the home and found Smith and Gonzalez dead. A child at the home – the 2-year-old son of Smith and Forest – was not injured.

Smith's friend, Kisha Poage, said the young mother had tried to make it work with Forest for the sake of their son.

"Over the years, she kept giving him chances to prove himself to be a great father," she said. "She was a great mom. Her son was her world."

It wasn't clear whether the child was in the custody of social services or with family members.