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Attempted Laurel murder-suicide involved boyfriend, ex-husband

LAUREL, Md. — An attempted murder suicide in Laurel, Maryland, Wednesday night involved an ex-husband and the current boyfriend of a woman.

Robert Mendiola, 39, shot Howard Popp and subsequently turned the gun on himself on Sudlersville South around 10:40 p.m., according to Anne Arundel County police. Popp later died from his injuries.

Robert Mendiola, a Laurel resident, is under police watch in a hospital with serious injuries, according to police.

“He never made any threats,” says Cathy Mendiola, referring to her ex-husband. “We never knew this was coming.”

Sobbing as she spoke, Cathy Mendiola told ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½ she had been dating Popp for about two months.

She was with him, outside her home on Sudlersville South, when her ex-husband showed up.

“He said, ‘What’s up Howard?’ Then he took a step back, pulled out a gun, and he shot Howard,” Cathy Mendiola explained.

Robert Mendiola is being charged with first- and second-degree murder among other charges.

²ÝÝ®´«Ã½’s Nick Iannelli contributed to this report. Follow on Twitter and .

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