Authorities release names of two people killed in apparent murder suicide in Valley Center

VALLEY CENTER - Authorities today released the names the two people killed in an apparent murder suicide in Valley Center.

Miguel Ataide, 41, was overheard by his mother while arguing with his wife 48-year-old wife, Eleanore, about 9:20 p.m. Tuesday at a residence in the 18000 block of Littlefield Lane, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office.

The mother heard a gunshot moments later and found her son in the hallway where he said he had shot his wife, officials with the Medical Examiner's Office said.

The Medical Examiner's Office listed Eleanore Ataide's cause of death as multiple gunshot wounds.

Miguel Ataide proceeded to his bedroom and closed the door, at which point his mother called 911, authorities said. Emergency personnel found Miguel Ataide and confirmed he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, the Medical Examiner's Office reported.

Sheriff's Capt. Duncan Fraser said two adult family members were present at the scene at the time of the shooting and were not injured. They were both escorted from the house and interviewed.

Detectives were trying to determine a motive for the shootings, Fraser said on Wednesday.

Authorities investigating apparent murder/suicide in Valley Center

SAN DIEGO - An investigation was under way today into an apparent murder suicide in Valley Center, a sheriff's lieutenant said.

Shortly before 9 p.m. Tuesday, someone called 911 from a residence in the 1800 block of Littlefield Lane to report that two people had been shot in that house, said San Diego County sheriff's Capt. Duncan Fraser.

Deputies arrived minutes later and found a man and woman with apparent gunshot wounds, Fraser said. Paramedics pronounced both dead at the scene, he said.

''Two adult family members were present at the scene at the time of the shooting and were not injured,'' Fraser said, adding that both were escorted from the house to be interviewed by investigators. The caller who phoned 911 was a parent of the dead man, sheriff's Lt. Kevin Menzies said. The caller said the man had shot his own wife, then turned the gun on himself, Menzies said.

Detectives were trying to determine a motive for the shootings and do not believe there are any outstanding suspects, Fraser said.