A neighborhood in Rancho Cordova became the scene of a tragedy, as four people, including two children, were found dead in a home on Mill Water Circle. The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office described the event as a murder-suicide, according to the Sacramento Bee.
Yesterday morning, deputies were dispatched following reports of gunfire and a concerning 911 call by an individual declaring, “I'm the shooter. I'm setting up booby traps and turning off the cellphone.” Despite initial fears, no booby traps were discovered at the residence, as noted by the Sacramento Bee.
Detectives and SWAT teams quickly responded by evacuating at least five neighboring houses, establishing a perimeter and using a drone to survey the situation from above. A breach was made by law enforcement using a specialized vehicle to access the property, where they would find the devastating reality within the walls of the family home. ABC10 reports the four individuals were pronounced dead at the scene, including one adult female, two juveniles, and a male adult believed to be the perpetrator.
The identities of the victims and their relation to each other were not known immediately following the incident, however, neighboring residents had described the household as a family of four. Residents who knew the victims shared memories of their interactions, including the children playing and the family generously offering eggs from their chickens. “They were very nice,” Suzanne Hanrahan, a local resident, told the Sacramento Bee, reflecting on the family who appeared to live a humble, quiet life. The Sheriff’s Office has not cited any prior calls for service at the address before the shooting occurred, a detail that underlines the sudden, unimaginable violence that befell the community.
As this story continues to develop, information is being updated as it becomes available. The Sacramento County Coroner's Office is working on formally identifying the individuals involved while homicide detectives investigate the circumstances that led to the fatal shooting. The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office has stated that additional details will be shared pending notification of kin and further investigation.
