OAKLEY — A man was fatally shot and a woman critically injured Tuesday in Oakley following an apparent domestic dispute, police said.

Police were called to the 1700 block of Pecan Court around 4:50 p.m. Tuesday for a welfare check on a woman who didn’t show up at work. While there, they knocked on doors, spoke with neighbors but saw nothing suspicious and left, authorities said.

Less than an hour later, a neighbor went to the house and saw two people, including the woman who looked as though she was in distress, police said.

Officers were again alerted and entered the home, where they found a man who had been fatally shot and a woman who was suffering from a severe gunshot wound.

The man was pronounced deceased and the woman was flown to a hospital in critical condition, police said.

The man’s identity was not released pending notification of his next-of-kin.

“What happened yesterday was completely unnecessary and avoidable,” Oakley police Chief Paul Beard said in a statement. “If you, or somebody you know are in a dangerous relationship and you feel like there is no way out of it for you, I encourage you to reach out to several resources that are available.”

Among the resources, the statement listed: Oakley’s non-emergency number at 925-625-8060 or emergency at 911; STAND! For Families Free of Violence at 888-215-5555; Family Justice Center at 925-281-0970; Community Violence Solutions at 800-670-7273; or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE.

Anyone with information regarding the shooting can contact Oakley police at 925-625-8855.

Source: www.mercurynews.com