Rancho Cordova, California — Authorities have determined that a tragic incident involving the shooting deaths of four individuals in a home was a murder-suicide carried out by the male resident, officials confirmed Wednesday. Among the deceased are two children.
The event unfolded early in the morning at a residence on Mill Water Circle, prompting law enforcement to respond shortly after 8:30 a.m. when an alarmed neighbor reported hearing gunshots and screams. Deputies from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department arrived at the scene to investigate the alarming reports.
Shortly after the initial 911 call made by the neighbor, a man identified as 58-year-old David Vallerga called emergency services himself. He disclosed that he was the shooter and mentioned having set “booby traps” inside the home. This alarming revelation heightened the urgency of the situation for responding officers.
Authorities later confirmed that Vallerga had a military background and owned multiple firearms. In light of the reported threats and potential dangers posed by the traps, deputies quickly established a perimeter around the neighborhood and began evacuating surrounding residents.
As deputies secured the area, they detected what they believed to be a gunshot emanating from within the residence. The Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Detail, commonly referred to as SWAT, deployed armored vehicles to the scene and attempted to make contact with anyone inside. When no response was received, a search warrant was obtained to further assess the situation.
After breaching a side fence, deputies gained entry through a sliding glass door. Utilizing a drone for reconnaissance, they discovered Vallerga unresponsive, gripping a pistol in his hand. Upon entering the residence, deputies found four victims who appeared to have died from gunshot wounds: Vallerga himself, a 49-year-old woman, a 13-year-old boy, and an 11-year-old girl.
Given the alarming threat of booby traps, the sheriff’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal team thoroughly examined the home but found no explosive devices. Investigators did, however, recover multiple shell casings from two different types of firearms, which matched weapons located at the scene. A second pistol was found beneath Vallerga’s body, and roughly 14 additional firearms were confiscated by authorities.
Detectives concluded from the evidence that the homicide followed by the suicide was committed by Vallerga. The motivation for this heartbreaking event remains unknown, and while the victims’ identities have yet to be officially released, neighbors suggested that the family of four had lived at the home for some time, pointing to a close-knit neighborhood shaken by this devastating event.