Single Mother Of Three Dead In Murder/Suicide

"CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA ― A mother of three was gunned down Sunday morning in an apparent murder-suicide, according to authorities.

"The Citrus Heights Police Department said they received a report of a dead man and woman inside a bedroom on the 7200 block of Pleasant View Drive just after 9:00 a.m.

"Grieving friends identified one of the victims as 28-year-old Melinda Mekita, who was apparently shot and killed by another man who then took his own life.

"Police said a handgun was recovered at the scene and it appears as though both people died from gunshot wounds. There is no evidence of any outstanding suspects, authorities said.

"`The female was on the bed, deceased from an apparent gunshot wound,` said Citrus Heights Police Lt. Gary Hendricks. `The male was on the floor, deceased.`

"There were three children -- ages 10, 5 and 4 -- at the scene at the time of the shooting, Lt. Hendricks said.

"Police have not released any information on the relationship between the man and woman, but friend Heather Carr said she is sure the two were not romantically involved.

"`He was just someone she knew. I don't know who he is, what his name is, I just know he was not her boyfriend,` Carr said. `She has a fiancée, she was going to get married.`"

From CBS13.com...