4 found dead, including 2 kids, after bizarre call leads deputies to Rancho Cordova home
By Jonathan Ayestas, Michelle Bandur
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RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. (KCRA) — A man, a woman and two children were found fatally shot inside a Rancho Cordova home on Tuesday morning after the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office received reports of gunfire.
The sheriff’s office said Tuesday evening that the shooting was believed to be a murder-suicide, carried out by the man found dead.
A caller told the sheriff’s office around 8:30 a.m. that they had heard gunshots at Copper Sunset Way and Mill Water Circle. Shortly afterward, the sheriff’s office said it got a second caller who claimed he was the one who fired a gun and that he had also placed booby traps.
KCRA 3’s Michelle Bandur was at the scene near the sheriff’s office mobile command center during our noon newscast, where several deputies could be seen standing outside the house. Visible damage could be seen along a fence and a door.
“Our rook was utilized to breach their rear fence, and subsequently their sliding glass door. At that point, a drone was launched into the residence and it was discovered that there was one male subject, that appeared to be unresponsive down in the residence,” said Sacramento County Sheriff’s spokesperson Sgt. Edward Igoe.
Igoe said after the drone spotted the man, deputies went inside and discovered the bodies of a woman, a boy and a girl, all killed by gunfire, inside the home they were searching. At this time, Igoe said all four have not been identified, so it is unknown if they are related. However, he said neighbors told detectives a family of four lives at the home.
Igoe said it is unknown if the man found dead was the same one who called claiming to have placed the booby traps. Deputies with the sheriff’s office’s explosive ordnance disposal responded and found no evidence of traps.
Igoe said they are not looking for any additional people in connection with the shooting. It is also not known if the second call came from a landline or a cellphone.
The law enforcement chaplain arrived on the scene in the afternoon. Igoe said these are tough situations for officers and deputies.
“It’s always difficult. A response to something of this magnitude is always extremely difficult. And honestly, as an agency, just our prayers are with friends and families of those involved today,” he said.
Neighbors also waited at the scene, wondering what and why this happened.
“It’s quiet for the most part. You’ll see people walking their dogs, running. For the most part, we don’t have any loud parties going on here and stuff like that. And it’s very quiet. Everybody’s friendly and peaceful. So to see this, it’s wild,” said Cameron Daughtery.
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