Three Dead Over Custody Dispute

"FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA — Authorities say a Fountain Valley man who was distraught over a custody dispute shot and killed his wife and 8-year-old daughter, then killed himself.

"Police Capt. Kevin Childe told the Orange County Register that officers late Friday responded to reports of a family fight and arrived to find a woman who had been shot on the pavement outside the home. Then they heard three gunshots inside the home.

"Inside they found the bodies of a 40-year-old man and an 8-year-old girl. They also found several people hiding in a bathroom.

"Authorities have not released the names of the man, woman or child.

"Police say they believe the man was waiting for his soon to be ex-wife to return home. When she pulled into the driveway and got out of the vehicle with their daughter, the former couple began to argue, Childe said.

"Hearing the fight, family members called 911 and pulled the girl inside the house, Childe said. The man apparently shot the woman and then tried to force his way into the residence by kicking through the front door, Childe said.

"He eventually shot a hole through a side window and entered the home.

"As the woman's mother and two male relatives ran out the front door, her father and another female relative hid in a bathroom while the man apparently shot his daughter and then himself, Childe said.

"Neighbor Ed Ahumada was startled by the gunshots.

"`I heard a rapid-fire volley,` he said. `I thought someone was knocking at my door, then I heard another volley and I thought 'There is a shooting somewhere.'`"

Source: SFGate.com...