Investigators say a father killed his wife and two children before turning the gun on himself inside a Mill Water Circle home.
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. — A 58-year-old man phoned 911 Tuesday morning to say he had fired a gun and set “booby traps” in his Rancho Cordova house; hours later, deputies found him, his wife and their two children dead inside, the sheriff’s office said.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office identified the man as David Edward Vallerga Jr. and said the case is being investigated as a murder-suicide. Deputies recovered more than a dozen firearms and multiple spent casings inside the residence. Tactical teams used an armored vehicle and a drone to enter after evacuating nearby homes. The coroner identified the woman as 49, and the children as 13 and 11. Officials emphasized that no explosive devices were found and that evidence collected across several rooms supports the preliminary determination.
Dispatchers received the first call just after 8:30 a.m. from a neighbor reporting gunshots near Copper Sunset Way and Mill Water Circle. A second caller soon identified himself as the shooter and warned of traps, prompting deputies to pull back, close streets and bring in an explosives team. After breaching a rear fence and sliding door with a specialized “rook,” deputies launched a drone that spotted an unresponsive man on the floor. Entry teams then cleared the house, locating the three additional victims in separate rooms. “This is the kind of scene that stays with people,” sheriff’s spokesperson Sgt. Edward Igoe said.
Inside, investigators documented two pistols connected to the suspected shooter — one in his right hand and another found beneath his body — and collected casings from different calibers. Detectives later logged 16 firearms from the property, including handguns and long guns, several registered to Vallerga, who had prior military service. Bomb technicians methodically checked the house and yard and found no devices or trip wires. Deputies said initial checks showed no recent domestic violence calls tied to the address. The sheriff’s office said it is not searching for additional suspects.
Neighbors described a family that kept to regular routines on the quiet cul-de-sac in the 5400 block of Mill Water Circle. Several said the children sketched chalk drawings and rode scooters along the curb after school. One neighbor who brought flowers called the loss “unthinkable” and said the area rarely sees police activity beyond traffic stops. Public records and neighbors indicated the couple ran tutoring or education services from their home. By afternoon, chaplains met with residents behind the tape while detectives circulated with evidence bags and a camera on a hydraulic mast.
Authorities said they are examining the 911 audio, canvassing for doorbell footage and downloading digital data from seized devices to piece together a timeline before the first shots. The coroner will conduct autopsies and toxicology testing; those results and a full ballistic analysis will be part of a final report. Investigators are also interviewing relatives and coworkers to determine recent stressors or conflicts. Officials said the findings will be summarized in a case file for review by the district attorney’s office, even in instances ruled murder-suicide.
By late Wednesday, crime-scene tape had been removed and a line of candles flickered near the driveway. The sheriff’s office said additional information will be released after key interviews and lab results are complete in the coming days. “Our thoughts are with the community and everyone affected,” Igoe said, adding that patrols would remain visible in the neighborhood through the week.
Author note: Last updated January 29, 2026.