Sacramento, CA: 3 dead in apparent murder-suicide in Sacramento County

PUBLISHED MONDAY, MAR. 15, 2010


Three people are dead after an apparent love triangle led to a murder-suicide Saturday night, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department.

Authorities said deputies arrived at the 5300 block of Thurman Way at 9:30 p.m. Saturday after a report of gunshots. They found three people on the ground, including 23-year-old Raul Velasquez and his girlfriend, 17-year-old Yanet Cuevas. Both had multiple gunshot wounds to their upper bodies, according to reports.

Manuel Esquivel, 22, described as the girl's ex-boyfriend, had a single gunshot wound to his head. A semiautomatic handgun was found next to his body.

Paramedics pronounced all three dead at the scene.

Witnesses told authorities that before the shooting Esquivel drove to the Cuevases' home, south of Fruitridge Road on Thurman Way, argued with the girl and left.

He returned minutes later, found Velasquez – who also lived on Thurman Way – and shot him. He then shot his ex-girlfriend, who was standing a short distance away, according to reports. Then he turned the gun on himself, authorities said.

The night of the shooting, several of Velasquez's relatives – including Rafael Gonzalez, a cousin – were inside watching a boxing match when they heard the gunshots, Gonzalez said. They ran outside and found the victims in the street.

Gonzalez said that Cuevas was holding her 1-year-old son at the time of the shooting. One of Velasquez's other cousins grabbed the child – who appeared to be unharmed – from her dying arms, Gonzalez said. Sheriff's Department officials said such details would be part of the investigation and couldn't confirm Gonzalez's account.

Mariela Aguilar, another of Velasquez's relatives, said her cousin was a friendly, outgoing man who worked at a local restaurant.

"He didn't really have problems with anybody. We don't understand how this came about," she said Sunday evening as family and friends gathered on the block of the shooting to mourn. Velasquez and Cuevas had been dating only a few weeks, Aguilar said.