A husband, wife, and a young child were found dead Saturday morning at the family’s home in San Diego, in what appears to be a murder-suicide brought about by a bitter divorce, according to police.
Police Lt. Matt Dobbs said officers were dispatched to the home early Saturday morning following a 911 call from the residence in which a dispatcher heard someone being asked to leave.
According to Fox5 San Diego, the incident occurred in the 2100 block of Flintridge Drive in the Paradise Hills neighborhood.
Before police arrived at the home shortly before 7 a.m., another call came from a neighbor saying they heard a sound coming from the home that sounded like a nail gun.
Upon arrival, officers looked through a window and saw a small boy inside covered in blood.
They then broke into the house and found a 29-year-old woman later identified by NBC San Diego as Sabrina Rosario, her 31-year-old husband, José Valdivia, and their 3-year-old son, Enzie Valdivia, dead.
Three other boys, Zuriel Valdivia, Ezekiel Valdivia, and Zeth Valdivia, believed to be ages 5, 9, and 11 were badly wounded and taken to a hospital.
Zuriel and Zeth, were later pronounced dead after being taken to the hospital, and Ezekiel is said to be in critical condition.
“It appears to be a tragic case of domestic violence,” Dobbs said, adding the woman had recently obtained a restraining order against her husband and the couple had been living apart for some time.
“He used a handgun to shoot his family before turning the gun on himself,” he also mentioned.
Police Chief David Nisleit said officers had visited the home previously, on Nov. 1, to resolve a property dispute between the couple, at the time police advised the woman on how to obtain a restraining order.
“Best we know they were going through some type of divorce process,” he said.
Neighbors told reporters they often saw the boys outside playing with their dog or riding their bicycles, “they were just living the kid’s life on the outside, but who knows what goes on behind closed doors,” said neighbor Gabriel Durazo.
Dobbs also mentioned that the crime scene was so gruesome it traumatized the arriving officers as they carried children out of the house in a desperate effort to save them.
“My heart goes out to the family and their friends,” Nisleit said. “As a husband, and a father, this incident is very difficult for me to even think about.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
