"Crumbling Finances" Lead To Desperate Act

"PITTSBURGH, CA — A Pittsburg man distraught over crumbling finances apparently shot three relatives to death before killing himself in his home early Thursday morning, police said.

"Police received a call about 4 a.m. from a home in the 200 block of Jack London Court from a male resident making suicidal statements and threatening family members. Officers went to the house and attempted to communicate with the caller, including using a megaphone.

"After several attempts to make contact, the officers entered the home and found four dead adults, two females and two males, including the man police believe called them. The identities of the victims have not been released, but police described them as a 73-year-old man, a 65-year-old woman and a 35-year-old woman. Additionally, the person who police believe contacted them, a 39-year-old man, was found with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot.

"Lt. Ron Raman said the victims and the shooter were all related. A firearm was recovered at the scene, Raman said. He also said police could not find any record of having responded to this home in the past.

"An initial investigation indicates that the suspected shooter was overwhelmed with personal financial problems. Police said he posted what appeared to be a suicidal message on Facebook before the shootings.

"`He appeared to be depressed over growing financial obligations he could not meet,` Raman said."

Source: MercuryNews.com...