The victims were Suzanne Courtade, 66, and her 23-year-old daughter, Meghan Courtade, the sheriff's office said Friday. Deputies responded to reports of gunfire around 8 p.m. Thursday in the 1500 block of Southwest Fifth Avenue and found both women outside the residence with gunshot wounds. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

David Keith Thornton, 64, who was initially detained for questioning, has been arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder, BSO said. Authorities have not disclosed what relationship, if any, Thornton had to the victims, nor have they described a possible motive or what preceded the shooting.

Suzanne Courtade worked for the town of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, a fact confirmed by Mayor Edmund Malkoon, who issued a statement mourning her loss.

"I am heartbroken to learn of the tragic loss of Sue Courtade and her daughter," Malkoon said. "Sue was a truly wonderful person whose kindness, warmth, and dedication touched so many lives. She was more than a valued member of our Town family. She was someone who genuinely cared about others and took great pride in serving our community."

The mayor added that "it is difficult to find words to express the sadness of such a senseless tragedy" and asked that Courtade be remembered "not only for her contributions to Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, but for the wonderful person she was and the lasting impression she made on everyone who knew her."

On Friday, a small memorial of flowers and a candle had formed outside the Pompano Beach home where the women were killed. Neighbors described the family as deeply rooted in the community and said the violence has left them shaken.

"It was horrible, you know. One laying there and one laying there," one man told reporters at the scene. "[She was] a good, caring person. Always help you, never any trouble. The kids the same way. They were outgoing, part of the neighborhood."

The killings have reverberated beyond the immediate neighborhood, given Suzanne Courtade's role as a public employee in a neighboring coastal town. Lauderdale-by-the-Sea officials did not immediately say what position she held or how long she had served the town.

The investigation remains active. BSO has not released additional details about the circumstances of the shooting or Thornton's connection to the victims. Anyone with information is asked to contact Broward Crime Stoppers.