Before Marine's Shooting Rampage, He Killed His Wife, Cops Say

May 28, 2013— -- A Marine killed in a shootout with Texas police following an alleged drive-by shooting rampage that left one woman dead and five others injured is suspected of stabbing his wife to death in a North Carolina motel room.

Lance Cpl. Esteban J. Smith was killed by police in Concho County, Texas, at around 6 a.m. Sunday, following an early morning rampage, in which he allegedly shot at random cars from his pickup truck.

According to Texas officials, Smith injured five people, one of them critically, and killed a woman identified as Alicia Torres, 42, in the series of random shootings.

Concho County Sheriff's Deputy Richard Doane was also wounded in a shootout with Smith in which the Marine was killed.

Soon after they were contacted by Navy investigators, police in North Carolina near where Smith was stationed at Camp Lejeune discovered the body of his wife in a motel room

Around 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jacksonville, N.C., police discovered the body of Smith's wife Rubi Estefania, 21, at the Sunset Inn.

"The investigation revealed that the victim had suffered from trauma consistent with a knife wound," Jacksonville police said in a statement.

The identity of the victim had been withheld until authorities could contact her next of kin.

"Evidence collected in the multi-agency investigation establishes that Esteban Smith appears to be responsible for his wife's death," police said.

Smith joined the Marines in 2008. He served two tours in Afghanistan as a rifleman, most recently from April to November 2012.

Following Smith's death, police discovered he had "an assault rifle, a handgun and hundreds of rounds of ammunition," according to Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman Tom Vinger.

The distance between Jacksonville, N.C., and Concho County, Texas, is about 1,500 miles or a 22-hour road trip. Investigators said they believe Smith drove to Texas, but have not yet released a suspected motive for either crime.