NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — It started with an argument, and ended with two people shot to death.

Two men died and another man was injured Wednesday evening in what police described as a domestic-related shooting at a 16th Street home, and the family and friends are lamenting the loss of life.

Around 7:24 p.m., Newport News Police were sent to the 700 block of 16th Street in reference to a shooting, and when officers arrived a minute later, they found three men inside a residence suffering from gunshot wounds, police said.

One man, 54-year-old Tracey Williams, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said, while a second man, 25-year-old Dalontae Taylor, was pronounced dead after being taken to a local hospital.

The incident occurred after an argument relating to a family matter, police said. Police chief said that Williams shot Taylor and Taylor, known as Tay, responded in self-defense by returning fire. Evidence thus far showed that Williams was the aggressor, police said. Taylor died at the hospital.

A third victim, Taylor’s brother, was also taken to a local hospital, and he is being treated after being shot in the leg, police said. The third victim was not involved in the shooting, police said.

“It escalated and Mr. Williams leaves the house, comes back with a firearm, and starts firing at Mr. Taylor, who returns fire,” said Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew, “and regrettably, we have a loss of life of two individuals today. … They were caught in the crossfire.” 

Williams was in a relationship with Taylor’s mother, who was also in the house, police said.

Drew confirmed that everything took place inside the house, which is in a pretty quiet neighborhood.

Police said they are not looking for suspects.

“You pull the trigger, you can’t take that bullet back,”  Drew said.

The mother of the sons who were shot told 10 on Your Side that the fatal shooting incident stemmed from an argument over the use of the mother’s car by the son who lived, and he was actually the target of the boyfriend’s attack.  

“People could have walked away,” Drew said. “There’s no argument worth that. … Better decisions or de-escalation methods or coping could have maybe prevented it.”

But it did escalate.

“It’s sad,” said Bruce Spratley, a fishing buddy of Williams, whose nickname is MeMe. “It’s sad. It is heartbreaking. Someone that close right here.” 

Frankie Williams, who lives in the neighborhood and gets around in a wheelchair, had a tear on his cheek.

“Yes, I have a tear on my face,” Williams said. “I hate to see it. People killing people like this man. It needs to come to a stop.” 

Drew said when they got the search warrant, they searched Tracey Williams’ car. They found two guns and lots of ammunition. Drew said those guns, and the guns found at the scene, will all be traced to find out the history of the guns, along with the shell casings to see if they are linked to any crime scenes. 

It was a fatal argument. 

The mother of the sons, Juanita, who did not want us to use her last name, was cleaning up the blood at the front door. She talked about her son who was killed, saying, “my son was just protecting his family.”  

She did not want to say anything else. 

A news conference took place Thursday expanding on the events. Watch the full conference below.