Christina Mae Eisnor died about 11 hours after she was shot on Wednesday. (Facebook)

A Nova Scotia man has been charged in the killing of his estranged wife outside a grocery store in Lunenburg County this week.

Wayne Paul Eisnor, 47, of Barss Corner, N.S., was charged on Friday by RCMP with first-degree murder.

He's accused of shooting his estranged wife, Christina (Tina) Mae Eisnor, 43, in the parking lot of Barry's Freshmart in New Germany on Wednesday afternoon. She died in hospital that night.

RCMP Cpl. M.J. DeLuco said police had enough evidence to lay the most serious charge possible.

"I can't comment on the particulars of the investigation, other than to say the evidence to date supported a first-degree murder charge."

Witnesses said the gunman shot himself. They said the victim and her alleged shooter were a couple who had recently split.

RCMP would not confirm those accounts, but said Friday that Wayne Eisnor was in critical condition in a Halifax hospital.

"Should Mr. Eisnor become well enough to attend court, he will appear before court, but that was not necessary in the laying of this first-degree murder charge, because it carries an automatic remand, until the court determines otherwise," DeLuco said.

No date has been set for a court appearance.

News of the double shooting spread quickly in the tight-knit community.

The flag at the local branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, where Tina Eisnor worked part time, was lowered in her honour on Thursday.