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Salinas police: Estranged husband stalked and shot wife; killed 2 others

According to Salinas police, the man on the left tracked down his estranged wife in Salinas and shot her and three of her family members.  (Aug. 27, 2015)
Mark Keszler
According to Salinas police, the man on the left tracked down his estranged wife in Salinas and shot her and three of her family members.  (Aug. 27, 2015)
SOURCE: Mark Keszler
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Salinas police: Estranged husband stalked and shot wife; killed 2 others
Two people are dead and two others are critically wounded after a domestic violence shooting unfolded in Salinas outside a federal office building.It happened at 8:45 a.m. Thursday outside the U.S. Social Security Administration office on the 900 block of Blanco Circle."This incident was purely domestic violence," Police Cmdr. Vince Maiorana said.VIDEO: 2 dead, two wounded in Salinas shootingMaiorana said an estranged husband and wife who live in Garden Grove, Calif. were having marital conflicts.The 32-year-old woman wanted to get away from her 50-year-old husband, so she drove to Salinas to stay with her aunt, uncle, and cousin, he said."The wife had come up to Salinas get away from martial difficulties they were having in Southern California," Maiorana said.The husband decided to follow and stalk his wife, police said. He found her Thursday morning outside the Social Security office while she was with her family.The husband argued with his wife until he pulled out a 9mm handgun and opened fire on everyone.The 51-year-old aunt and 64-year-old uncle died at the scene. The wife and her 28-year-old cousin were also shot and rushed to a trauma center in critical condition.Witness Mark Keszler told KSBW that the gunman showed very little emotion immediately after the shooting. "The scariest part of it was that he was so stoic. He just didn’t have any kind of emotion, anything in his face. That was really chilling. It was like watching a horror film," Keszler said.More than 10 people called 911. Officers surrounded and locked down the area. The suspected shooter was pointed out to officers by witnesses, and he was taken to the police station."(Witnesses) assisted us and directed us to the identity of the suspect. The cooperation we got from witnesses out at the scene was extraordinary," Maiorana said.Police declined to release the names of the victims and suspected shooter. He was still being questioned at the police station late Thursday afternoon."Our suspect completely confessed to what he did. We’re having a very candid conversation now on why he did what he did. We don’t know yet if there was premeditation, or if it was a spur of the moment thing," Maiorana said.Police do not believe the wife had a court-issued restraining order against her estranged husband. When asked what people who feel trapped in an physically abusive relationship should do, Maiorana answered, "If you’re in a domestic violence situation and you have a spouse who is stalking you, contact your local police department. Get a restraining order. You gotta make that step and do it."The suspected shooter will be booked into the Monterey County Jail on two counts of murder, police said.Police Chief Kelly McMillin thanked allied agencies that assisted in securing the crime scene Thursday, including, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, Salinas Fire Department, California Highway Patrol, Monterey County Sheriff's Office, and Monterey County District Attorney's Office.

Two people are dead and two others are critically wounded after a domestic violence shooting unfolded in Salinas outside a federal office building.

It happened at 8:45 a.m. Thursday outside the U.S. Social Security Administration office on the 900 block of Blanco Circle.

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"This incident was purely domestic violence," Police Cmdr. Vince Maiorana said.

VIDEO: 2 dead, two wounded in Salinas shooting

Maiorana said an estranged husband and wife who live in Garden Grove, Calif. were having marital conflicts.

The 32-year-old woman wanted to get away from her 50-year-old husband, so she drove to Salinas to stay with her aunt, uncle, and cousin, he said.

"The wife had come up to Salinas get away from martial difficulties they were having in Southern California," Maiorana said.

The husband decided to follow and stalk his wife, police said. He found her Thursday morning outside the Social Security office while she was with her family.

The husband argued with his wife until he pulled out a 9mm handgun and opened fire on everyone.

The 51-year-old aunt and 64-year-old uncle died at the scene. The wife and her 28-year-old cousin were also shot and rushed to a trauma center in critical condition.

Witness Mark Keszler told KSBW that the gunman showed very little emotion immediately after the shooting. 

"The scariest part of it was that he was so stoic. He just didn’t have any kind of emotion, anything in his face. That was really chilling. It was like watching a horror film," Keszler said.

More than 10 people called 911. Officers surrounded and locked down the area. The suspected shooter was pointed out to officers by witnesses, and he was taken to the police station.

"(Witnesses) assisted us and directed us to the identity of the suspect. The cooperation we got from witnesses out at the scene was extraordinary," Maiorana said.

Police declined to release the names of the victims and suspected shooter. He was still being questioned at the police station late Thursday afternoon.

"Our suspect completely confessed to what he did. We’re having a very candid conversation now on why he did what he did. We don’t know yet if there was premeditation, or if it was a spur of the moment thing," Maiorana said.

Police do not believe the wife had a court-issued restraining order against her estranged husband. 

When asked what people who feel trapped in an physically abusive relationship should do, Maiorana answered, "If you’re in a domestic violence situation and you have a spouse who is stalking you, contact your local police department. Get a restraining order. You gotta make that step and do it."

The suspected shooter will be booked into the Monterey County Jail on two counts of murder, police said.

Police Chief Kelly McMillin thanked allied agencies that assisted in securing the crime scene Thursday, including, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, Salinas Fire Department, California Highway Patrol, Monterey County Sheriff's Office, and Monterey County District Attorney's Office.