SWAT Team Finds Bodies

"ANTIOCH, CA — The Contra Costa Coroner's Office has released the names of the husband and wife who died in an apparent murder-suicide early Thursday morning.

"Police believe that Robert Ellingson, 45, shot and killed his wife, 45-year-old Linda Ellingson, then shot himself. The couple was found in the master bedroom of their home in the 1700 block of Mt. Hamilton Drive.

"Their two children, a 13-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter, were not at home at the time of the shootings. Linda Ellingson's death marked the city's sixth homicide of the year.

"Police got a call about 4:20 a.m. Thursday from someone saying that Robert Ellingson had called him and said he had shot his wife and was going to kill himself. Shortly after, police got a call from Robert Ellingson himself saying the same thing.

"Investigators now believe that Ellingson shot himself shortly after the phone call. But when they went to the home in response to a resident's report of hearing gunfire, it was uncertain whether there was still a threat.

"Over the next several hours, police cordoned off the neighborhood and a SWAT team was summoned. Two nearby elementary schools were briefly locked down. Friends and relatives of the Ellingsons gathered at the scene and were interviewed by police for information about them.

"At 11 a.m., police entered the home and found the deceased couple. Investigators said that they had been experiencing marital and financial difficulties."

Source: Contra Costa Times...