8 Year Old Witnesses Death Of Parents

"TURLOCK, CA — Police today released some more details of an apparent murder-suicide on the north side of town Monday afternoon.

"Lt. Ron Reid said the 34-year-old Keyes man and 33-year-old Turlock woman, who had a longtime on-and-off relationship, had met up to exchange custody of their 8-year-old son.

"The woman was picking up the boy from his father shortly after 5 p.m. Both pulled their cars to the side of Grand Oak Court in the 2900 block and he apparently got into her sport utility vehicle.

"`They had an argument of some kind, then he shot her and then himself,` Reid said.

"He said he couldn’t release the names of those involved because police hadn’t reached relatives of the woman to notify them of her death.

"The man and women were declared dead at the scene. Both were shot in the upper torso; a gun was found near the car. Reid didn’t know how many times the gun was fired.

"The 8-year-old boy, who saw the argument and shooting, wasn’t hurt. Reid said he was shaken but `doing about as well as can be expected.`

"He was staying with relatives."

From The Modesto Bee...