The gunshot deaths of a married couple this week in their apartment near Gillespie Field airport have been ruled a case of murder-suicide, authorities reported Friday.
One of the children of Eric Orpinela, 42, and his 39-year-old wife, Denise, made a 911 call about 9:45 a.m. Thursday to report discovering her parents’ bodies at the residence in the 200 block of East Bradley Avenue in the Bostonia area, just north of El Cajon, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.
The couple, parents to children ages 9, 13 and 14, died of gunshot wounds to the head, Lt. Joseph Jarjura said.
The woman’s death has been ruled a homicide and her husband’s a suicide. Eric Orpinela “has been identified as the only suspect in the deaths,” Jarjura said.
“There are no outstanding suspects, and there is no threat to the community,” the lieutenant said.
The circumstances that led to the crime remained under investigation Friday afternoon.
“The children were not injured and are being cared for,” Jarjura said.
City News Service contributed to this article.
