WESTPORT — Shooting victim Joan Murphy said she had believed her estranged husband might be suicidal but she did not suspect he was homicidal, according to investigators with the state police unit assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.

But Ms. Murphy did not report this until after she was shot twice by Paul Murphy, 64, of Fall River, in a crowded restaurant late at night on Jan. 17. Mr. Murphy then shot himself in the head, killing himself. The couple reportedly lived in separate residences in Fall River and were going through a divorce.

Just before 11 p.m. on Jan. 17, Mr. Murphy entered the Oriental Pearl restaurant, on 576 State Road in Westport, with a 38-caliber handgun and scanned the room for Ms. Murphy. Ms. Murphy had gone by herself to the restaurant, where she often met up with friends for karaoke night, Gregg Miliote, director of communications for the D.A.’s office, said. The restaurant was “pretty crowded” when the shooting occurred.

Mr. Murphy spotted Ms. Murphy, walked up to her table and exchanged a few words with her, before he pulled out the handgun and shot her twice, and then killed himself. Mr. Miliote would not disclose what they said nor would he reveal where the bullets struck Ms. Murphy. (Read Shooting for full story and witness accounts.)

According to Mr. Miliote, Mr. Murphy did not leave a note and did not threaten Ms. Murphy with physical injury prior to the incident. While the investigation has closed as a domestic violence attempted murder, Mr. Miliote said investigators could not determine what Mr. Murphy’s motivation was in the attempted murder and his suicide. Mr. Miliote added that domestic violence incidents can be triggered by many things, like divorce proceedings, child custody disputes, and financial problems.

“If you look across Massachusetts, there’s been a disturbing trend this year,” he said, citing five or six “either attempted or successful attempts at murder-suicide in domestic violence situations.”

“We’re urging the public to be more aware of domestic violence or domestic violence syndrome,” he said.

Free services are available for women who need domestic-abuse counseling or protection at the Women’s Center, with offices in New Bedford and Fall River, and at STARR Fall River, at 386 Stanley Street. Mr. Miliote said the D.A.’s office can also direct women to free services for counseling and protection.

Ms. Murphy, 57, was critically injured by the two gun shot wounds. She was released from Rhode Island Hospital on Jan. 23, only six days after she was shot. Mr. Miliote said Ms. Murphy is “recovering well.”