A California community is mourning after two neighbors became involved in a deadly murder-suicide early Sunday morning.
“Yeah, it’s gonna be a little different now..” “we would hear their voices and now we’re not gonna hear that… I don’t know, it kinda just made us happy,” neighbor Kelly Avila said.
A family she and her husband Craig once described as cheerful and full of life was shattered by violence.
“When you hear everything that’s going on, and it’s like listening to an audiobook and you’re trying to just picture what’s happening and everything, it just sounded like it’d be an awesome time,” Craig said.
The first emergency call came from a home near University and Stanford Avenue in Hanford.
Hanford Police said people could hear arguing in the background before several loud noises, believed to be gunshots.
Officers reached the home within minutes, but before they could enter, another gunshot rang out.
“When officers arrived on scene, the first two officers went up to the front door, announced themselves, saw a male walk by a window, and then pulled a gun and shot himself,” Hanford Police Lieutenant Justin Vallin said.
Police said 33-year-old Vincent Diaz forced his way into the house and fatally shot 25-year-old Adrian Valdovinos before turning the gun on himself.
Investigators said Diaz parked his vehicle about 100 yards away before walking to the home carrying a high-capacity firearm.
Valdovinos had been dating Diaz’s ex-wife.
Authorities said the entire incident happened in less than 10 minutes.
“It happened very fast. As soon as the officers went up to the residence, they knocked, they announced themselves. Immediately they saw the suspect walk from one side to another side,” Lt. Vallin said.
Valdovinos was widely known in Hanford as a talented young boxer, and police said he and Diaz had no known history of conflict.
Court records show Diaz and his wife had been separated since August. In March, she requested a restraining order against him involving their child.
Craig and Lauren Avila said they had grown used to hearing the family laughing and spending time together.
Before the separation, they described them as ideal neighbors and never imagined such a tragic ending.
“You used to be able to hear all of them all of the time, singing, and having a great time in the house and all of that, so for this to happen is just.. It’s sad to see,” Craig said.
Police are still investigating how Diaz obtained the firearm, since he was a convicted felon and legally prohibited from possessing a gun.
This marks Hanford’s third homicide of the year.
If you are experiencing suicidal, substance use or other mental health crises please call or text the new three digit code at 988. You will reach a trained crisis counselor for free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also go to 988lifeline.org or dial the current toll free number 800-273-8255 [TALK].
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