Investigators in London, Ont. suspect an off-duty officer and former policeman were killed in a murder-suicide.

Acting Insp. Kelly Johnson, 40, and retired superintendent David Lucio, 57, where pulled from a van just after midnight.

Both had gunshot wounds, and were pronounced dead within minutes of arriving at hospital.

"We can confirm that there was a relationship between these two people, but the exact nature of this relationship is the subject of our investigation," said London Police Chief Murray Faulkner.

Johnson's service revolver was found at the scene and she did not have permission to carry the gun off-duty. But investigators are still determining who fired the weapon.

Witness Brian Kearn was one of the first people on the scene, after the van crashed into a barrier at 7 Picton St., which is located near London City Hall.

"(I heard) a gunshot and then a split second later I heard an engine rev and the van crashed into the wall," he said.

Kearn added he did not want to describe what he saw in the van "because it was quite gruesome."

Emergency services personnel arrived on the scene to find both the driver and passenger unconscious inside the vehicle.

"When we arrived we found two occupants of that vehicle suffering from life-threatening injuries," London police Const. Amanda Pfeffer told CTV Newsnet.

Authorities believe the victims died as a result of the shooting and not the crash.

Residents have told CTV Kitchener a man was behind the wheel, and London police say several people were witnesses to the collision.

"It is entirely possible that there are other witnesses to have yet to speak with the police," Pfeffer said.

"We are appealing to those individuals if they have not yet spoken to the police and have something to offer to the investigation, please call us," she said.

Anyone with information is asked to call London police at 519-661-5670.

With a report from CTV Kitchener's Frank Lynn