A man killed his wife and shot himself Saturday near the town of Kiryat Malachi. He is in critical condition and being treated for head wounds.

Initial police estimates indicate that the man intended to kill his wife, then commit suicide.

The couple, in their forties, moved a month ago to the religious community of Merkaz Shapira. They have four children, who were in the adjoining room at the time of the shooting.

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The woman's sister stayed with the couple over the weekend. The weapon the man later used belonged to his nephew, who holds an arms license.

The man's nephew heard gunshots and hurried to the bedroom, where he saw the two with wounds to the head.

Police have no prior record of the couple, and are not aware of any circumstances that would point to a family dispute.

Ashdod man kills wife and mother-in-law, attempts suicide
A 33-year-old man from Ashdod killed his wife and her mother and was then moderately injured after trying to commit suicide, Israel Radio reported on Thursday night.

The man reportedly stabbed them to death in their apartment while the couple's three children were in the next room.

An ambulance evacuated him to a Rehovot hospital to be treated for his wounds. Ashdod police said he had no previous criminal record.