2 dead at Joplin business

JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) -- Newton County authorities are investigating two deaths they believe are an apparent murder-suicide.

Newton County Sheriff Ken Copeland told The Joplin Globe that a 60-year-old male forced his girlfriend to drive him from Wentworth to Joplin at gunpoint to the business where he formerly worked.

Police say the owner of the business escaped Thursday morning, but his 23-year-old son was left inside with the gunman.

Police later found the bodies of the son of the owner and the gunman inside the business.