Raleigh, N.C. — A six-hour standoff ended Wednesday morning, when Wake County sheriff's deputies arrested a man accused of shooting and killing his wife at their home near Raleigh Tuesday night.

Fernando Palma Carias, 47, shot Marisol Mendoza Rojas at 5729 Manor Plantation Drive, near Rock Service Station Road, shortly before 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, sheriff's officials said.

The couple's 15-year-old twin boys were home during the shooting, authorities said. One witnessed it, while the other escaped from a window, ran to a neighbor's house and called 911.

Carias fled the house, and agreed to surrender about four hours later in a parking lot at 4505 Falls of Neuse Road.

The standoff ensued when he arrived and put a gun to his head and threatened to kill himself. His attorney eventually convinced him to drop the gun and surrender to authorities on a charge of first-degree murder.

It's not clear what led to the shooting.

Neighbors described the family as "hard-working" and said the couple owned several businesses, including check-cashing businesses and Hispanic food stores.

Family and friends said the couple had been having relationship problems because Rojas had refused to marry Carias.