Created: 5/10/2007 10:43:17 PM 
Bunn, NC -- A 17-year-old Bunn High School junior's estranged boyfriend gunned her down in her front yard Thursday afternoon when she arrived at the home where she lived with her aunt and the couple's 2-year-old son, Franklin County sheriff's deputies said.
Sheriff Pat Green said Elvira Hernandez had sworn out an arrest warrant against Christopher Thomas Harris, 20, a week ago, saying he had threatened her. Deputies had been unable to find him.
Harris was waiting in a car when Hernandez got off a school bus, Green said. Harris "jumped out of his car" and ran up to Hernandez with a shotgun and shot her in the back, the sheriff said.
"She fell to the ground. He ran up and shot her point-blank," Green said Thursday evening after investigators had reconstructed what they believe happened.
Hernandez died on the front steps of the Loblolly Circle home, and Harris tried to get inside, Green said.
He could not get in and then turned the shotgun on himself, Green said.
Officials initially reported that Harris had been airlifted to Duke University Hospital in Durham, but Green later said he had been taken to Wake Med. His condition was not immediately available because hospital officials said they could not find him listed as a patient..
The shooting happened shortly after 3 p.m., officials said.
Harris had attended Bunn High School, they said.
?It's not ever easy. This is senseless and it's tragic,? county school Superintendent Bert L?Homme said.
Bunn High School describe Hernandez as a quiet teenager, but a wonderful person to be around.
?When you spend 7½ hours every day with kids and spend time and you lose one of them, it's difficult,? said Bunn Principal George Kelley
WRAL-TV
