CHALMETTE - Authorities say an axe-wielding man attacked and killed his ex-wife in front of her Chalmette home Wednesday morning.

The St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office told WWL that the attack occurred around 8 a.m. on Palmetto Street. The sheriff's office says 56-year-old Mark Owens was arrested for second-degree murder after killing his ex-wife, Kimberly Owens.

It's believed the victim was leaving her home to go to work when Owens emerged, possibly from a hiding place under the home, and attacked her with an axe. She sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Owens left the scene, but turned himself in after an arrest warrant was issued. 

Authorities said the incident occurred at least partially in front of the victim's mother and a neighbor.

According to the sheriff's office, the couple had allegedly been divorced for a couple of years and some type of domestic incident was reported two years ago.