Neighbors and a resident of the Southeast Decatur home where a man and woman were fatally shot Tuesday morning said they’re worried about their safety following the incident.

Decatur police identified the shooting victims as Lucia Guardo Mayo, 34, and Uriel Cruz Mayo, 40. They were killed at 1604 Chestnut St. S.E. after a reported burglary.

Army veteran Blake Bernabo, 32, said he has been living next door to the home where the shootings occurred for seven years and was concerned Wednesday about the well-being of his partner and their 6-year-old daughter.

“My little girl likes to come out here and play in the yard, so I’m more worried for her,” he said. “(My partner) is more shaken up about it than me. She’s not too thrilled. We’re on the poor side of Decatur. There’s nothing you can do about that, but when shootings start happening this close to the house, she doesn’t feel like Decatur is a safe spot in general anymore.”

Police investigators were at the shooting scene again Wednesday morning interviewing family members and neighbors. Police haven’t said whether they have any suspects in the shooting, but a statement said they are “pursuing leads.”

“The preliminary investigation does not indicate any threat or safety concern to the public,” police spokeswoman Irene Cardenas-Martinez said.

Bernabo said he sees Decatur police patrol the area almost nightly but hears gunshots about every other week.

“The crime is not the best around here,” Bernabo said.

He said he was asleep when four to six shots in rapid succession awoke him about 2 a.m. Tuesday.

“I threw my jacket and shoes on and went outside,” he said. “I didn’t see anything, and the sad part is I was out here seconds after the gunshots. It was slightly louder than hearing someone bang on your door.”

He said he has talked to police about what he knows. He said the victims didn’t cause trouble.

“They were pretty good people,” he said. “There were no issues out of them.”

Felix Mayo, 29, has lived at the house with the two victims — his brother Uriel and cousin Lucia — and three children for about four months since he first moved to Decatur. Felix Mayo and another relative of the victims said Uriel and Lucia were cousins. It’s unclear who the children’s parents are. Police said the children were unharmed and are under the supervision of the Department of Human Resources.

On the night of the shooting, Felix Mayo said, he was in Selma working. He said he fondly remembers playing soccer and card games with Lucia and Uriel when they were growing up in Tabasco, Mexico. He said he can’t believe they’re gone.

“Nobody had anything against them,” he said in Spanish. “I don’t know who it could be (who did this).”

Mayo said that while he doesn’t hear gunshots in the neighborhood, the shooting rattled him, and he is considering leaving Decatur.

“Three days ago, I felt safe. Not anymore,” he said.

A family friend, Jesus Martinez, 16, said he’d known the victims for three years. While visiting Felix Mayo about noon Wednesday he said he was still in shock about the shooting deaths.

“They were very calm people. I used to hang out with them, and I never heard of any problems,” he said. “I am just shocked about this. How could this happen to them? Why would it be them? Who was the enemy?”

After the incident, he said he was considering leaving, too.

“Since it happened, I told my mom I don’t feel safe living here,” he said. “I want to go somewhere else, somewhere far from here.”

Paul Jackson, 33, said he has lived in the neighborhood for the past two years. He said he doesn’t see the double homicide as a direct threat along his street about a block from the shootings, but has growing concerns after recent shootings, some unreported.

“It’s been hunky-dory until now,” he said. “I never thought anything would happen on that street. (Local crime) declined over the years. … But these last few months have been crazy.”

He expressed remorse that two people lost their lives.

“I’m real sorry for what’s going on. I hope (police) catch them ASAP,” he said.

Morgan County Coroner Jeff Chunn confirmed Wednesday that gunshots caused the deaths of Uriel Mayo and Lucia Mayo. He said the state forensics office in Huntsville will conduct autopsies in the case.

Police said anyone with information on the slayings should contact Detective Jasmin Ferizovic at 256-341-4614 or the Decatur Police Department Tip Line at 256-341-4636.

— [email protected] or 256-340-2437. Twitter @DD_EDaniel [email protected] or 256-340-2442. Twitter @DD_Wetzel.

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