MANCHESTER — Police have declared the deaths of a couple found in their SUV early Christmas morning a double-homicide, according to Department of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland.

After autopsies on Saturday, the State Medical Examiner’s Office determined Eric Williams, 35, and Bonnie Royer, 26, both died of gunshot wounds, McCausland said in a news release.

Police were alerted to the scene off Sanford Road when someone inside Williams’ SUV called 911 around 3:30 a.m. on Friday. The couple lived nearby on Easy Street.

Detectives are interviewing friends and family trying to retrace their steps and have received a number of tips from the public, McCausland said.

Anyone with information that could aid the investigation is asked to call Maine State Police in Augusta at 624-7076.