Mobile police launched a homicide investigation after two people were found dead inside a longtime photography studio on Florida Street, authorities said.
The discovery came on a Thursday evening when someone walked into Vaughn Photography, located at 24 North Florida Street, and found the two victims. Officers were dispatched to the business after a 911 call came in around 4 p.m. When they arrived, they located two deceased people inside.
By early evening, investigators had classified the case as a double homicide. Mobile Police Department spokesperson Ashley Rains said the two people who died were a man and a woman, though authorities did not immediately release their identities. “We are actively working the scene to determine what it is that we are dealing with,” Rains said at the location. “We do have two deceased inside the business.”
The department deployed multiple specialized teams to the scene, including its assault, homicide and crime scene investigation units. As the investigation got underway, officers fanned out through the surrounding area, speaking with neighbors in nearby homes and businesses in an effort to piece together what had happened and gather any information that might help the case.
The studio has been a fixture in the community for decades, having operated since 1975. The killings sent a jolt through the neighborhood, where residents and business owners were left grappling with the sudden and violent loss inside a familiar local establishment.
Police cautioned early on that the investigation was still in its opening hours and that many questions remained unanswered. Investigators worked to determine a possible motive, establish a timeline and identify anyone who may have been involved. Authorities said they would release additional information as it became available.
Double homicides are relatively rare in the area, and the discovery drew a significant law enforcement response as detectives sought to secure the scene and collect evidence before it could be lost.