Four Deaths Apparently the Result of Marital Discord

A 24-year-old El Cajon man who shot and killed his estranged wife, their baby, his wife’s stepmother and then himself Tuesday had made veiled threats against them in a continuing dispute, the Sheriff’s Department said.

Leonard Scott showed up in the 10400 Block of Park Avenue in Santee at 4 p.m., ostensibly to pick up his 4-month-old daughter, Jennifer Bergeron, for a visit. But he instead shot his wife, Robin Bergeron, 25, to death in the home’s driveway. It appears he then entered the house and shot the infant and Robin’s stepmother, Sophia Bergeron, 30, Lt. John Tenwolde said.

Sophia Bergeron was flown by Life Flight helicopter to Sharp Memorial Hospital, where she died shortly before 5 p.m.

Tenwolde said Scott had no criminal record but had threatened the family.

“It all seems to revolve around the marital difficulties and custody of Jennifer. He had made statements in the past that, if he couldn’t have custody of Jennifer, nobody could,” Tenwolde said.

The couple separated when Robin Bergeron-Scott was 3 months pregnant with Jennifer. She later dropped the “Scott” from her name, and a custody battle over the baby ended up in court, Tenwolde said.

Scott was tracked to his El Cajon apartment with the help of a neighbor who heard the shots and saw Scott leave the Santee house with a rifle, climb into his car and drive off.

At 4:18 p.m., El Cajon police were dispatched to the apartment in the 400 Block of Ballantyne Street. Scott had returned to his apartment, about 3 miles from the Santee home, and put the rifle to his own head.

El Cajon police waited several hours before storming the apartment. Neighbors said they had heard a shot shortly after they saw Scott come home, a police spokesman said.