A man, a woman and two children were found fatally shot inside a Rancho Cordova home on Tuesday morning after the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office received reports of gunfire.The sheriff’s office said Tuesday evening that the shooting was believed to be a murder-suicide, carried out by the man found dead.The victims were identified by the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office on Friday as 49-year-old Lindsey Burger, 13-year-old Colton Peralta Vallerga and 11-year-old Sydney Peralta Vallerga. Neighbors described the children as happy, with Sydney being creative and loving to draw chalk art, while Colton was interested in Pokémon. Neighbors also said the children were homeschooled, and the family owned a tutoring service that they attended.On Tuesday, a caller told the sheriff’s office around 8:30 a.m. that they had heard gunshots at Copper Sunset Way and Mill Water Circle. Shortly afterward, the sheriff’s office said it got a second caller who claimed he was the one who fired a gun and that he had also placed booby traps. That caller was identified by the sheriff’s office on Wednesday as 58-year-old David Vallerga. Officials noted that Vallerga had prior military experience and possessed multiple firearms.KCRA 3’s Michelle Bandur was at the scene near the sheriff’s office mobile command center Tuesday, where several deputies could be seen standing outside the house. Visible damage could be seen along a fence and a door.Earlier coverage in the video player below:”Our rook was utilized to breach their rear fence, and subsequently their sliding glass door. At that point, a drone was launched into the residence and it was discovered that there was one male subject, that appeared to be unresponsive down in the residence,” said Sacramento County Sheriff’s spokesperson Sgt. Edward Igoe. Igoe said after the drone spotted the man, deputies went inside and discovered the bodies of the woman and two children, all killed by gunfire, inside the home they were searching. Neighbors told detectives a family of four lives at the home. Vallerga was also found unresponsive, holding a pistol in his right hand. A second pistol was also found underneath his body. Deputies with the sheriff’s office’s explosive ordnance disposal responded and found no evidence of traps.Igoe said they are not looking for any additional people in connection with the shooting.Detectives are working to determine a motive, the sheriff’s office said.The law enforcement chaplain arrived on the scene in the afternoon. Igoe said these are tough situations for officers and deputies.”It’s always difficult. A response to something of this magnitude is always extremely difficult. And honestly, as an agency, just our prayers are with friends and families of those involved today,” he said. Neighbors also waited at the scene, wondering what and why this happened.”It’s quiet for the most part. You’ll see people walking their dogs, running. For the most part, we don’t have any loud parties going on here and stuff like that. And it’s very quiet. Everybody’s friendly and peaceful. So to see this, it’s wild,” said Cameron Daughtery. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. You can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text ‘START’ to 88788.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
A man, a woman and two children were found fatally shot inside a Rancho Cordova home on Tuesday morning after the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office received reports of gunfire.
The sheriff’s office said Tuesday evening that the shooting was believed to be a murder-suicide, carried out by the man found dead.
The victims were identified by the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office on Friday as 49-year-old Lindsey Burger, 13-year-old Colton Peralta Vallerga and 11-year-old Sydney Peralta Vallerga.
Neighbors described the children as happy, with Sydney being creative and loving to draw chalk art, while Colton was interested in Pokémon. Neighbors also said the children were homeschooled, and the family owned a tutoring service that they attended.
On Tuesday, a caller told the sheriff’s office around 8:30 a.m. that they had heard gunshots at Copper Sunset Way and Mill Water Circle. Shortly afterward, the sheriff’s office said it got a second caller who claimed he was the one who fired a gun and that he had also placed booby traps.
That caller was identified by the sheriff’s office on Wednesday as 58-year-old David Vallerga. Officials noted that Vallerga had prior military experience and possessed multiple firearms.
KCRA 3’s Michelle Bandur was at the scene near the sheriff’s office mobile command center Tuesday, where several deputies could be seen standing outside the house. Visible damage could be seen along a fence and a door.
Earlier coverage in the video player below:
“Our rook was utilized to breach their rear fence, and subsequently their sliding glass door. At that point, a drone was launched into the residence and it was discovered that there was one male subject, that appeared to be unresponsive down in the residence,” said Sacramento County Sheriff’s spokesperson Sgt. Edward Igoe.
Igoe said after the drone spotted the man, deputies went inside and discovered the bodies of the woman and two children, all killed by gunfire, inside the home they were searching. Neighbors told detectives a family of four lives at the home.
Vallerga was also found unresponsive, holding a pistol in his right hand. A second pistol was also found underneath his body.
Deputies with the sheriff’s office’s explosive ordnance disposal responded and found no evidence of traps.
Igoe said they are not looking for any additional people in connection with the shooting.
Detectives are working to determine a motive, the sheriff’s office said.
The law enforcement chaplain arrived on the scene in the afternoon. Igoe said these are tough situations for officers and deputies.
“It’s always difficult. A response to something of this magnitude is always extremely difficult. And honestly, as an agency, just our prayers are with friends and families of those involved today,” he said.
Neighbors also waited at the scene, wondering what and why this happened.
“It’s quiet for the most part. You’ll see people walking their dogs, running. For the most part, we don’t have any loud parties going on here and stuff like that. And it’s very quiet. Everybody’s friendly and peaceful. So to see this, it’s wild,” said Cameron Daughtery.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. You can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text ‘START’ to 88788.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel