A tragedy of domestic violence that involved the deaths of two former Mercer Island High School students took place last week in Virginia, near the nation’s capitol.

A 2004 MIHS graduate and former U.S. soldier is suspected of shooting a Virginia police officer as well as killing his wife, before turning the gun on himself the night of Sept. 22. Robert K. Hui, 22, once a Mercer Island High School debate team member, may have shot and killed his 19-year-old spouse, Sarah Tredop, a 2007 MIHS graduate, inside their apartment in Arlington, Va., according to the Arlington County Police Department.

Mercer Island police officers were called and notified the parents of both individuals of the deaths. Tredop’s parents declined to comment when contacted by the Reporter.

The horrifying and violent saga surrounding these two deaths unfolded after police pulled Hui over for driving erratically on a highway in Virginia around 8 p.m. Eastern time last Tuesday. Two Alexandria City officers pulled Hui over, and as they approached the vehicle, Hui shot the officer standing at the passenger window and drove away. Moments later, Hui shot himself in the head about two miles north of the spot where he was stopped, authorities said, with his silver Lexus crashed on the side of the roadway. Tredop was later found dead in the couple’s apartment. Arlington County police said they found Tredop’s body in a closet behind a bullet-riddled door.

In addition to the handgun used to shoot the officer and himself, a rifle was found in Hui’s vehicle, police said. .

The officer survived because he was wearing a bulletproof vest.

Island police are also assisting the Virginia police with their investigation. According to Mercer Island Police Detective Pete Erickson, Hui was arrested by Island police at least once in the past for a drug violation. Police are continuing to investigate the incidents and are asking anyone who recently spoke with either Hui or Tredop to call police.

According to the Military District of Washington, D.C., Hui was an enlisted private who joined the Army in October of 2006 but was honorably discharged nearly two weeks ago. Hui was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division of the Old Guard Caisson. The prestigious Old Guard is in charge of burying soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.

On Thursday, remembrances were beginning to show up on Tredop’s Myspace and Facebook pages.

“R.I.P. Sarah we loved you. R.I.P. Robert. We will always miss you. Thank you both for everything. 07 Original,” read one entry.