Police say Julio Baba Portalatin, 38, of 203 Valley Court in Selma shot his girlfriend, Yesenia Santos-Torrez, 34, also of 203 Valley Court, and her brother, Johnson Torrez of Selma, before turning the weapon on himself, Selma police Capt. R.A. Cooper said.

Portalatin survived and has been charged with two felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury with intent to kill, and two felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury.

The brother and sister remained in serious condition Thursday at WakeMed in Raleigh. Cooper said Portalatin was released from the hospital Wednesday and taken to the Johnston County jail.

Cooper said a celebration among family members and close friends turned for the worse when an argument broke out between Portalatin and Santos-Torrez. Police say Portalatin pulled a gun during the argument and pointed it at Santos-Torrez.

"Everyone grabbed him and convinced him to put the gun back into his pocket," Cooper said.

Police say Portalatin calmed down and put the gun away, but then he and Santos-Torrez began arguing again, leading to a string of violent incidents. Investigators say Portalatin shot his girlfriend in the leg. Her brother then came to her defense and hit Portalatin in the head with a beer bottle. That caused Portalatin to turn around and shoot Torrez, who ran out of the home and collapsed in the road.

Police say Portalatin shot Santos-Torrez again in the upper side as she lay on the floor.

"The bullet went through her," Cooper said.

Police say Portalatin then shot himself in the head. Somehow, he was still able to function and pointed the weapon at his chest before others wrested it from him, Cooper said.

Investigators have not yet said what prompted the argument.

"It was domestic," Cooper said. "A lot of jealousy."