A family tragedy shook the city of Phoenix, Arizona, after a woman fatally shot her husband and then took her own life while her young children slept in their home, authorities reported.

The victims were identified as Celestina Ertebati, 42, and her husband Sam Ertebati, also 42. Both were found dead Sunday at their residence on Bell Road. Police responded to the home shortly after 5:00 p.m. after the couple's children, whose ages were not released, became confused when their parents didn't wake up and called a relative, who made the discovery. Police are investigating the circumstances of the shooting. According to the preliminary report, Celestina Ertebati shot her husband and then committed suicide, Phoenix police said in a statement. Officers found the couple in their bedroom, unconscious, with a gun nearby, authorities said. The couple had been married for approximately 16 years, according to reports. "No one else was injured during this incident," said Sergeant Jen Zak, a spokeswoman for the Phoenix Police Department. He added that the circumstances leading to the shooting remain under investigation.

Tributes remember Sam as a devoted father and friend

After the news broke, family and friends paid tribute to Sam Ertebati, whom they described as “a son, a friend, a confidant, and a soul whose life mattered deeply.”

“Those who knew Sam speak of his kindness, his generosity of spirit, and the way he could light up a room simply by being there,” one of the messages posted in his honor read.

A friend wrote on social media: “You were my brother, my best friend. You were always there when I needed someone to talk to. You should still be here with us.”

Other messages described him as a devoted father, always looking out for his family and very close to his children.“He was exactly what a father is supposed to be: incredible, kind, and loving,” said another relative. Neighbors shocked and makeshift memorial. Neighbors in the area told local media that the family was well-known in the neighborhood and that the children often played basketball in the front yard of the house, where a makeshift memorial was set up after the tragedy. “The street was always full of kids playing. This has left everyone in shock,” one resident told Fox News. Authorities have not released further details while the investigation continues.