Killer Found Dead In Victim's Car

"EL PASO, TX — The El Paso Police Department have officially released the names of those involved in a murder/suicide Wednesday.

"Police received a call at about 5:45 p.m. at an apartment in the 10700 block of Vista Del Sol where 26-year-old Jacqueline Valenzuela was found shot to death inside her apartment.

"Detectives identified 27-year-old Carlos Torres, who was at the apartment when the shooting occurred, as the suspect in the homicide.

"Police say Torres fled the scene in a vehicle that belonged to Valenzuela—a black 2012 Ford Focus.

"Police searched for Torres and received information that he may have been in the Tom Mays Park area in West El Paso off of Trans Mountain.

"Officers approached the vehicle and saw a man—identified as Torres—dead inside of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

"Police say the motive for the homicide appears to be jealousy as Valenzuela and Torres had recently broken off a relationship and Valenzuela had begun seeing someone else. The case remains ongoing at this time."

From kvia.com...

Woman Survives Deadly Love Triangle

"PORT JEFFERSON STATION, NY — A love triangle turned deadly when a man fatally blasted his ex-girlfriend’s new beau with a shotgun in Long Island Sunday night and then committed suicide, cops said.

"Doomed Frank Panebianco, 28, and his girlfriend, Jessica Kasten, 28, were out with friends at a Port Jefferson Station eatery before the violence broke out about 11:20 p.m., cops said.

"The couple was leaving the Long Island Pour House, 511 Route 112, when they were confronted in the parking lot by Kasten's ex, Michael Skiadas.

"An argument erupted and Skiadas grabbed a shotgun from his Jeep, cops said. A friend, Jack Schneider, 32, attempted to calm him down, but Skiadas struck him in the head with the gun.

"Kasten and Panebianco were trying to get away when Skiadas ran toward their car and fired two shots, striking Panebianco in the torso, cops said.

"Skiadas then returned to his vehicle and shot himself. Cops said he died at the scene.

"Panebianco, of Mount Sinai, was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital but couldn’t be saved. Schneider was treated at the same hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

"Kasten, of Lloyd Harbor, was not injured."

From nydailynews.com...

When Boyfriends Collide

"BILOXI, MS — When Biloxi police arrived at the Royal Gulf Apartments on 190 Gateway Dr, they found two bodies and three shotgun shells. The victim was identified as Francis Smith Jr., 36, of Gulfport. He had been shot twice.

"The suspect was also dead. Police say Keith Weaver, 38, also of Gulfport was distraught over his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend.

"`It appears that the ex-boyfriend of the girlfriend came over and confronted her and her new boyfriend, shot her new boyfriend, then shot himself,` Sgt. Alan Bond, a Biloxi Police Detective, said.

"Bond says Weaver did not have any history of violence and that he just appeared to have snapped. As people at the Royal Gulf apartment complex learned, domestic disputes can happen anywhere, anytime and unfortunately, sometimes they have tragic endings.

"Autopsies were performed on both men Saturday afternoon. Smith had gunshot wounds to his upper chest and shoulder. His death was ruled a homicide. Weaver had one gunshot wound to his chest. His death was ruled a suicide."

From wlox.com...

Estranged Husband Returns To Kill Wife's Boyfriend, Self

"MILFORD, OH — Police have identified the two men who died Monday in an apparent murder suicide in Miami Township.

"John Waitas, 38, shot Robert Dyer before turning the gun on himself, according to a release from Miami Township Assistant Police Chief Mike Mills.

"Dyer, 35, lived with Waitas' estranged wife, Shannon Waitas, at a home on 5426 Wolfpen Pleasant Hill Road. Waitas reportedly broke into the home around 5:50 a.m. and shot Dyer multiple times.

"Authorities say Waitas had a brief verbal encounter with his estranged wife before taking his own life. Shannon and three children in the home were not hurt in the incident.

"Miami Township Police were called to the residence last month when Waitas came to the home and refused to leave."

From 19actionnews.com...

Murder Suspect Charged After Botched Suicide Bid

"LAUREL, MD — A man allegedly shot and killed another man who was dating his estranged wife before attempting to take his own life in Laurel Wednesday night, Anne Arundel County police said.

"The victim, Howard Richard Popp Jr., 39, from Owings Mills, was found in the roadway in the 3300 block of Sudlersville South around 10:40 p.m., police said. He was lifeless when police arrived and was later pronounced dead at the Maryland Shock Trauma Center. The suspect was also taken to Shock Trauma with life-threatening injuries and has been charged with first- and second-degree murder, among other charges, police said.

"Police identified the suspect as Robert Babauta Mendiola, 39, of Laurel. His charges have not yet appeared in online court records and it could not be determined whether he had obtained a lawyer.

"Police said Mendiola's wife had separated from him in July and obtained a final protective order, but Mendiola continued to attempt to reunite with her as she began dating Popp. Mendiola's estranged wife and Popp were sitting in a car when Mendiola approached, and Popp was shot multiple times with a handgun after the two had gotten out of the car.

"Mendiola fled the scene and barricaded himself in a shed in the 300 block of Old Line Avenue, and when police broke into the shed, Mendiola had shot himself."

From the Baltimore Sun...

High Speed Chase Ends In Suicide Of Killer

"PALENVILLE, NY — State Police have released information regarding a double murder/suicide that happened in Greene County over the weekend.

"According to authorities, a man killed his estranged wife and her boyfriend at 844 Pennsylvania Ave. in Palenville Sunday afternoon.

"Authorities responded to the Pennsylvania Avenue home after neighbors reported hearing gunshots in the area on Sunday.

"Upon arrival, authorities said they found Daniel Brennan, 51, with multiple gunshot wounds in the driveway of the residence. Pammi Mroczek, 49, was found inside the home dead with multiple gunshot wounds.

"State police said an investigation revealed that Robert Mroczek, 46, killed Pammi, his estranged wife. Police said he also killed her boyfriend, Brennan. Mroczek then fled the scene of the incident.

"State police spotted Mroczek's car on Interstate 81 in Broome County on Sunday leading to a chase. Authorities said they used stop sticks to stop the suspect’s vehicle which then traveled off the shoulder of the roadway.

"`As a result, New York State Troopers in Troop C out of Sidney located the vehicle operating Interstate Route 81 just before 1 a.m. Sunday morning in the town of Chanango, Broome County, where they attempted to stop the vehicle,` Major Patrick Regan with the NYS Police said. `Mroczek was operating the vehicle, fled. A pursuit was initiated. The pursuit lasted over 30 miles at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour.`

"However, when troopers approached the vehicle, they say they found Mroczek with a fatal self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

"`We recovered a weapon that he used to shoot himself with, and we still have to do some testing,` Regan said. `We assume that may have been the murder weapon, but we have to do some testing to determine that.`"

From news10.com...

Car Chase Ends With Two Dead, Shooter Hospitalized

"DRY RIDGE, KY — Authorities say a Grant County man fatally shot his estranged wife and a man she was with before turning the gun on himself.

"The shooting was reported late Monday night on Mulligan Road outside Dry Ridge, said Grant County Sheriff Chuck Dills.

"Dills said Shaun E. Hiles, 35, admitted to fatally shooting 35-year-old Nicole Hiles, his estranged wife, and 32-year-old Larry G. Whiteker, a man authorities believe Nicole Hiles was seeing.

"Dills said Nicole Hiles was staying with a friend near what became the scene of the double homicide. He said it is not clear where the pursuit started, but believes Shaun Hiles, angered with his estranged wife for seeing another man, followed Nicole and Whiteker down Vallandingham and onto Mulligan, where he hit the blue pickup truck they were driving with his silver SUV.

"A tall grassy area a few feet from the intersection had tire tracks showing the truck's path before stopping.

"Shaun Hiles `had been chasing after them,` Dills said. `We're learning that his wife was seeing this other person and he was upset over it.`

"Hiles then fatally shot his wife, who was in the passenger seat of the pickup truck, Dills said. He then put down that gun, picked up a .223 caliber rifle with a large-capacity magazine, jumped out of his SUV and began to fire inside the truck, killing Whiteker, Dills said. Whiteker suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

"Hiles then turned the gun on himself. He was flown to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where Tuesday he was in the intensive care unit, being treated for at least two gunshot wounds.

"Dills said deputies were at the hospital, but it could be some time before the suspect is fully questioned."

Read more at cincinnati.com...

Ex-Husband Shows Up With A Gun

"WILLIS, MI — A Willis man is recovering at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Sunday afternoon after a woman’s ex-husband shot him in the midsection before turning the gun on himself Saturday night, a family member said.

"Nicholas Elka was rushed to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital with a gunshot wound in his abdomen after a man shot him outside his home, said Larry Woerst, Elka’s grandfather. Woerst said Elka was being dropped off at the home in the 8500 block of Bunton Road about 11:40 p.m. Saturday by a female friend he’d been out with a few times.

"When they arrived at the residence, the woman’s ex-husband was parked in the front yard, Woerst said.

"`My grandson got out of the car, walked up and said, 'What’s going on, what do you need, what do you want,'` Woerst said. `And, the guy said, 'I left you messages, I said I was gonna take care of you.' And, he pulled out a gun and shot my grandson.`

"Woerst said the bullet went through Elka's abdomen and exited through his back. Despite his wound, he was able to make it to the home next door where his mother lives.

"After shooting Elka, the man fatally shot himself, Woerst said.

"Elka was brought to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and underwent surgery for three-and-a-half hours, Woerst said. The bullet missed hitting any bones, and he’s expected to recover at this point. Woerst said he was able to speak with Elka by phone Sunday morning.

"`He’s a very, very lucky young man,` Woerst said, adding that Elka is still in intensive care and being watched closely by doctors."

From mlive.com...

He Came In Through The Bedroom Window

"PAWTUCKET, RI — A Massachusetts man shot and killed a Pawtucket man and then turned the gun on himself after finding his ex-girlfriend in the other man's bedroom Monday night, according to Pawtucket police.

"Robert Amado, 43, of 22 Plymouth St., in Carver, shot into the bedroom window of the first-floor apartment at 96 North Bend St. after seeing his ex-girlfriend and 45-year-old Timothy J. Robillard inside, said Maj. Arthur Martins.

"Amado then forced his way in through the broken window after the couple, firing multiple times at Robillard, according to the police. Robillard was killed, and the woman fled.

"Amado then fired a final shot, killing himself, Martins said. Officers called about gunfire and screams at the apartment at 10 p.m. found both men dead, Martins said. A revolver was next to Amado.

"Robillard's death is the city's first homicide this year. Police said there are no other suspects being sought.

"Police did not identify the woman, a 45-year-old Westport resident. Martins said she was shaken, but unhurt. It wasn't immediately known whether she'd complained to police about threats or violence from Amado. Their relationship had recently ended, Martins said.

"Amado was out on bail and due in Plymouth County Superior Court next month on charges of stealing more than $150,000 of construction and landscaping equipment from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Connecticut, and Maine.

"Amado and another man from Carver were both indicted last August on multiple counts of larceny, which carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison in Massachusetts, according to the office of Attorney General Martha Coakley.

"Amado was also accused of threatening two witnesses after he found out they'd spoken with law enforcement.

"The apartment house has been relatively quiet, with few calls to police over the last five years, Martins said."

From the Providence Journal...

Police Chase Ends In Suicide Of Killer

"INVERNESS, FL — Citrus County Sheriff's deputies are investigating the circumstances surrounding an apparent murder/suicide in Inverness Monday night.

"The sheriff's office says 911 dispatch received a call at 7:22 p.m. in regards to a domestic disturbance and shots fired at a home in the 1300 block of N. Reed Terrace.

"The caller gave a description of a man, later identified as 52-year-old Michael Laramee, and his car as he fled the scene.

"While en route, a deputy spotted the vehicle heading down Hwy 41 S. A chase ensued, the aviation unit assisted, and a detective deployed spike sticks on Hwy 44 W. near Croft Road, blowing out Laramee's tIres. Although the vehicle was hindered, Laramie continued to the 2700 block of Venus Street. As deputies approached, they found Laramee dead of apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

"Deputies say 22-year-old Justin Harper was found shot at the home and pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators say Harper was dating Laramee's ex-girlfriend, Jenifer Molfetta. Molfetta and Laramee had a child together."

From wtsp.com...

Love Triangle Ended By Lady Shooter

"MURPHY, TX — A woman killed two people, including her former boyfriend, at his home in Murphy before fatally shooting herself outside a Dallas home, authorities say.

"Michelle Boyer, 45, was linked to the slayings after she was found dead Saturday afternoon in a car in the 100 block of Leda Drive, northeast of White Rock Lake.

"Police said they found a handgun similar to the weapon that is believed to have killed Jonathan Masin, 40, and Amy Picchiotti, 38, in Murphy.

"They also found a note near Boyer’s body that included information about the shootings. Details of the note were not released, but a written statement from the city of Murphy said her breakup with Masin `led to this murder/suicide.`

"Masin’s and Picchiotti’s bodies were found about 8:30 a.m. in separate rooms in his home on 131 Sherwood Drive after a concerned relative contacted police. Neighbors said they had heard what might have been gunshots about 6:30 a.m.

"According to public records, Boyer had once lived at Masin’s home in Murphy. Picchiotti lived in Dallas, less than three miles from where Boyer’s body was found.

"Boyer and Masin both apparently had worked at Texas Instruments.

"The resident of the Dallas home where Boyer’s body was found declined to comment, saying he wanted to give her family a chance to comment.

"A neighbor said he recognized Boyer, as her body was being removed from her vehicle, which was also familiar to him.

"`It’s just a sad thing, all the way around,` said Tim Powell."

From dallasnews.com...

Love Triangle Ends In Gunfire

"OCEAN SPRINGS, MS — A man and a woman are now dead following a domestic shooting today in Ocean Springs, according to a news release from the Ocean Springs Police Department.

"Captain William Jackson identified the deceased as Patrick Norman, 42, of Hoover, Ala., who committed suicide after shooting Amanda Salas, 36, and Christopher Dale Prevost, 30, both of Ocean Springs.

"Salas died from her injuries at 1:50 p.m. at the Ocean Springs Hospital.

"The incident occurred at 10:55 a.m. at a residence on 209 Hunter Drive in Ocean Springs.

"Jackson said Norman and Salas `had been in a dating relationship prior to this incident but were currently separated.`

"Salas was now dating Prevost.

"Salas was shot once on the left side of the head with a 9 mm handgun, and Prevost was shot in the left shoulder, an injury Jackson said is not life-threatening."

From gulflive.com...

Shooter Surprises Ex-Wife, Boyfriend

"LIMESTONE, NY — A man and woman were ambushed and killed in an apparent homicide, and the alleged shooter turned the gun on himself early Wednesday afternoon.

"Cattaraugus County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched at 12:19 p.m. to 5342 Nichols Run for a reported shooting. There, officers found Kimberly Podolski, 42, an Olean resident, dead inside the mobile home from a gunshot wound to the head. Her boyfriend, Dennis Larweth, 50, of Olean, was also found dead from an apparent gunshot to the head on the porch.

"The shooter, who Cattaraugus County Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb identified as Daniel Podolski, 38—Kimberly Podolski’s estranged husband—was found alive inside, but critically injured from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

"The Podolskis were married, but had been separated for some time, Whitcomb noted. Both owned the mobile home on Nichols Run. Penny Hough, Kimberly Podolski’s aunt, told the Times Herald the Podolskis have two children, one of whom attends Allegany-Limestone Elementary School.

"`They no longer lived together, and no one lived at the residence,` Whitcomb said. `The wife went there to retrieve some property, and she took her boyfriend and friend with her. They did not anticipate running into the husband there, but he was there and started shooting.`

"Police believe Podolski had been waiting for his estranged wife inside the residence for some time."

Read more at The Bradford Era...

Three Dead In Love Triangle Shooting

"MARIETTA, GA — Cobb County police are investigating a triple shooting inside an apartment.

"It happened at around 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Ivy Ridge Apartments off Bentley Road.

"Monday afternoon, police confirmed the shooting was a double murder/suicide. Cobb County Police Sgt. Dana Pierce said the shooter was 45-year-old Pericles Demoura. The other two victims were identified as 35-year-old Thelma Vinhal and 30-year-old Euclides Guinato-Bernardes.

"Investigators confirmed Demoura once dated Vinhal, and that Guinato-Bernardes was her new boyfriend.

"Pierce said the whole incident was contained within one apartment.

"`Everything was contained here inside the apartment. Initially there was speculation that people were missing from this immediate scene. That was not the case,` Pierce said.

"Neighbors said the victims are part of a close-knit Brazilian community in the area."

From 11alive.com...

Cop, Fireman, Mutual Love Interest Dead After "Domestic Incident"

"GLEN BURNIE, MD — Homicide detectives outside Baltimore are investigating an apparent murder/suicide involving a police officer and a firefighter.

"Three people were found dead inside a home on the 1100 block of Armistead Street in Glen Burnie, Maryland, early Sunday morning after a reported shooting around 1:35 a.m., police in Anne Arundel County said.

"Police said the suspected shooter—Christopher Lee Robinson, 37, a Baltimore police officer—was one of the people found dead at the scene.

"Baltimore firefighter Andrew Scott Hoffman, 27, and Marie Leanne Edith Hartman, 26, were killed.

"`Preliminary investigation indicates that the suspect/shooter was one of the deceased and that he had a relationship with the female victim,` police said.

"Police said they were still investigating the shooter's motive, but described the shooting as a `domestic incident.`"

Read more at whas11.com...

Are You Lonesome Tonight?

"BRIGHTON, NY — Authorities say a 30-year-old man found fatally shot at a suburban Rochester apartment complex had killed by a man who died after turning the gun on himself.

"Police in the town of Brighton tell local media outlets that Jonathan Pender was shot several times Sunday afternoon by 29-year-old Matthew Fix of Henrietta. Officials say Fix shot himself and died at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

"Police say the men knew each other and were involved with the same woman.

"The shooting happened around 4 p.m. in the apartment Pender shared with his older brother. Police say they were called to the Elmwood Court Apartments for a report of a disturbance and gunfire."

From seattlepi.com...

Meeting May Have Been Deadly Ruse

"ROSEVILLE, MN — A Roseville man’s belief that his wife was having an affair with her co-worker may have been the reason he shot and killed the man and then himself outside her workplace, authorities said Friday.

"Roseville police responded to a report of a shooting with two men down at 4:15 p.m. Thursday near the loading dock area of CPI Card Group, a plastic card printer located at 1975 W. County Road B2, a few blocks from the Rosedale Shopping Center.

"Police say Cheng Vang, 44, and his wife, Yong Vang, 37, both from Roseville, traveled to the business, where she works, to meet with her co-worker Joseph Yang, 33, of Brooklyn Park. Once there, Cheng Vang shot Yang multiple times with a semi-automatic pistol before turning the pistol on himself, police said. Yong Vang, who witnessed the shootings, went to the aid of her husband before police arrived.

"The details of the meeting are under investigation, but authorities said in a news release they believe it was prearranged. Yang had a pen and paper documents when he was killed. Near Cheng Vang’s body, investigators found the pistol, which police determined he purchased legally in May.

"`Preliminary investigative interviews indicate Cheng Vang may have believed Joseph Yang and his wife may have been involved in an extramarital affair,` Lt. Lorne Rosand, spokesman for Roseville police, said in a release. Thursday’s `meeting may have only been a ruse to lure Yang to a familiar location. Police speculate that once at CPI Card Group, Vang may have requested Yang to sign documents as a distraction in order to murder him.`

"Autopsies determined that Cheng Vang died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head and Yang from multiple gunshot wounds.

"Yong Vang was not injured during the shooting and has been cooperative with police. She is not believed to be an accomplice. The investigation is ongoing."

From StarTribune.com...

Two Dead In Love Triangle Shooting

"SCOTTSDALE, AZ — A Chandler man who was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Scottsdale after apparently shooting another man to death was a store manager for a CVS pharmacy in Phoenix, the company confirmed Wednesday.

"Scott Jablonsky, 47, took his own life at the company’s regional office in north Scottsdale, at 15100 N. 90th St., where his wife also was employed, the company said in a statement.

"Scottsdale police received a call about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Broadstone apartment complex near Raintree Drive and 92nd Street, said David Pubins a spokesman for the Scottsdale Police Department.

"Upon arrival, police discovered the body of Luis DesCoteas, 45, lying dead in an outdoor stairwell, Pubins said.

"About 15 minutes later, police received another call of a shot fired at a business complex near Raintree Drive and 90th Street, which turned out to be the CVS regional office.

"Authorities found Jablonsky dead in an employee break room, Pubins said.

"Police said it appeared that Jablonsky and his wife had recently separated and that DesCoteas was the woman’s new boyfriend, Pubins said.

"Police believe that Jablonsky shot DesCoteas outside of his apartment and then drove to his wife’s workplace and shot himself, Pubins said."

From azcentral.com...

Love Triangle Ends With Three Dead On The Beach

"PORT ARTHUR, TXThe identities and motive for Sunday’s murder/suicide on a Jefferson County beach have been released.

"Investigators believe Eric Barragan of Bridge City, TX shot Lauren Brack, 31, and Regino Maybit, 34, before shooting himself. Both victims are from Groves, TX.

"`It appears that Lauren Brack and Eric Barragan had a previous relationship that had terminated and she was currently in a relationship with Mr. Maybit,` deputy Rod Carrol told Nsaid.

"It played out on McFaddin Beach in front of numerous witnesses. It is unclear if there are any other suspects.

"`At the current time this is an ongoing investigation and that’s one of the things we are trying to clarify,` Carroll said.

"Carroll says a lot of witnesses took off when the bullets started flying. He’s encouraging them to call the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office to be interviewed.

"`We know a lot of people left the beach for obvious reasons; I mean there was chaos down there directly after the shooting. We are asking that anyone that did see it to contact the Sheriff’s office.`"

From news92fm.com...

Kids Orphaned After Double Murder/Suicide

"GRAND PRAIRIE, TX — A series of phone calls led up to a double murder/suicide that left two children orphaned.

"Dashun Atkins, 39, drove to Hill Top Lane to the home of his ex-wife, Janea James, 37, and shot her in her neighbor’s yard, according to Grand Prairie Police Det. Mark Beseda. Atkins shot James’ boyfriend, James Doyle, 41, inside the home.

"Two children, a 5-year-old boy and 3-year-old girl, who belonged to Atkins and James were left at the home unharmed.

"Atkins then drove to his apartment’s garage and shot himself.

"Police said the couples young children were taken into protective custody to be questioned before they could be turned over to family members."

Read more at CBS DFW...