The quiet of a middle-class Georgetown neighbourhood was shattered over the weekend in an apparent murder-suicide.

Neighbours say a woman was shot dead by her estranged husband in the garage of their home & he later turned the gun on himself with police just feet away.

Halton Police haven't said anything about the case other than 2 people were killed inside a Hillside Dr home Saturday afternoon & that the Special Investigations Unit has taken over.  The SIU is called in when someone is hurt or killed during an interaction with police.

Phil Adams who lives kitty-corner to the house in question, was cleaning up the flower beds in his front garden when he heard what he describes as 2 bangs.  He turned to see a woman running from the house, screaming for help.

Neighbours have IDed the couple who lived in the house as Debra & David Allan.  They were in the process of separating & Debra was going to the house to pick up some of her things, with a friend along for support.  Neighbours say David was in the garage to surprise Debra & shot her.

Across the street, Ron Wellon went to watch from his upstairs window as police closed in on the house.

Both Wellon & Adams heard police trying to coax someone from out of the garage, saying things like "it's not too late, we can help you".  Wellon says he heard a man say he was going to drop his gun & come out.  But instead, Wellon heard a pop & the garage door stayed closed.

The SIU wasn't available for comment on Sunday.