In a somber incident that shook a Sacramento neighborhood, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office has concluded that a quadruple homicide that took the lives of three family members and the suspected gunman was, in fact, a murder-suicide. On Tuesday, officers from the Rancho Cordova Police Department were called to the scene in the 5400 block of Mill Water Circle after neighbors heard what they believed were gunshots and screams.
A call to the 9-1-1 Communications Center was made by 58-year-old David Vallerga, the homeowner, who grimly identified himself as "the shooter" and warned of "booby traps" in the house, according to a social media post from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. Vallerga's military background and possession of multiple firearms led to the dispatch of Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Detail (SED / SWAT) and the immediate evacuation of surrounding residents. The tense situation escalated upon hearing another gunshot from within the residence.
The SED's response involved deploying two armored vehicles, the BearCats, and a smaller armored vehicle called the Rook to breach the residence. A drone was flown inside, locating Vallerga unresponsive with a pistol in hand. Upon entry, authorities discovered three additional deceased individuals: a 49-year-old woman and two minors, a 13-year-old male and an 11-year-old female, all found with gunshot wounds. In the chilling scene that followed, the Sheriff’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team meticulously cleared the residence of the alleged booby traps, but none were discovered.
Investigators on the scene gathered evidence and began piecing together the tragic events. "Based on the evidence, detectives believe this was a murder-suicide committed by Vallerga," the Sheriff’s Office reported. Found beneath Vallerga's body, holding a second pistol and amidst numerous firearms and spent shell casings matching the weapons seized, the grim finality of the act was apparent. With approximately 14 additional firearms taken from the property, investigators continue their work to determine the precise motive behind the fatalities. The identities of the victims will be released following the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office protocol.
