Man charged with murder in girlfriend's shooting death

He was being held without bond at WakeMed awaiting his first court appearance. He will be transferred to a secure facility upon his release from the hospital, police said.

Montgomery is accused of shooting and killing his girlfriend and then shooting himself in the chest after she dropped off two of her children at St. Augusta Missionary Baptist Church, 605 Bridge St., for a before-school program.

Montgomery was Street's boyfriend and the father of her youngest child.

Relatives said they weren't aware of any difficulties between the couple, but police said Montgomery had been charged at least twice with domestic assault and domestic trespass in incidents involving Street.

"We've had calls to their residence before on more than one occasion," Police Chief Larry Smith said, adding that he didn't think Street and Montgomery still lived together.

Street was a mother of three and drove a school bus for Fuquay-Varina High School, said her aunt, Doris Burton.

"She was just so good-hearted. I can't see why any harm would have been brought to her, why her life was cut down at such an early age," Burton said. "It's so sad. It's just a heartbreak. It's such a terrible tragedy, and we are trying to make sense of it to see what took place for him to have did what he did."

The children witnessed the shooting but weren't harmed, according to the church's pastor, Rev. Dr. Marvin Connelly Jr., who said Street and Montgomery weren't members of the church.

"It’s an unfortunate circumstance. It was a domestic dispute between a mother and her children’s father, her boyfriend," Connelly said. "Our hearts go out to the families. We’ll certainly be praying for the families and provide whatever support the church can provide to this family."