CAPITOLA (KRON) — Police are investigating what appears to be an apparent murder-suicide that happened Sunday when a 36-year-old man killed his 8-year-old daughter then himself while sitting in a parked car at the Capitola Mall, police said.
According to Chief Terry McManus, the wife of the man called police around 3:15 p.m., concerned that her husband was going to commit suicide.
She told police that her husband was making suicidal threats from inside their family car that was parked near the west entrance of the mall parking lot, located at 1855 41st Ave.
The wife also informed police that the 8-year-old was with him.
When police arrived, they found the man dead in the driver’s seat. The 8-year-old’s body was in the passenger seat suffering from what looked like gunshot wounds, McManus said.
Medical crews tried to save their lives, but both victims died at the scene, according to police.
The incident remains under investigation and the identities of the man and his daughter are not being released at this time.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practice professionals. They can be reached at 1-800-273-8255, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.