Three family members dead in homicide-suicide in Visalia home, Sheriff’s Office says

Three people are dead in what authorities are describing as a double homicide and suicide in a Visalia home Wednesday night.

The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office reported that a 48-year-old man shot and killed a 28-year-old man and 49-year-old woman, then fatally shot himself. A 4-year-old boy was rescued from the home and unharmed.

All four people are related, the Sheriff’s Office said, but gave no further details.

Authorities first responded at 8:21 p.m. to a report of an assault at the residence on the 31800 block of Road 138. As deputies went to the scene there was a report of gunshots fired.

Deputies arrived and got several family members to safety. They were told the suspect was in the home and possibly barricaded with other people.

SWAT personnel and a hostage negotiation team was brought in. After negotiations failed, SWAT members began sweeping the house. They found the child and got him to safety, then found the three bodies.

This story was originally published August 31, 2017 at 5:43 AM with the headline "Three family members dead in homicide-suicide in Visalia home, Sheriff’s Office says."