Man Fatally Shot by Robbers in Front of His Children

A 32-year-old Valinda man was fatally shot in front of his three children after several men invaded the family’s house in a robbery attempt early Tuesday, authorities said.

Jose Quintanilla and his wife Myrna were leaving their house in the 1300 block of Echelon Avenue around 1 a.m. when five or six men appeared in their driveway and ordered the couple back into the house, said Sheriff’s Deputy Matthew Rodriquez.

The assailants then forced the couple and their children to lie on the living room floor and demanded the family hand over money and jewelry, Rodriquez said. Myrna Quintanilla was taken into a bedroom by one of the men, who asked her for money and struck her in the face, leaving minor cuts.

Meanwhile, robbers ransacked the house and shot Jose Quintanilla, Rodriquez said. Deputies said they do not know why he was shot or whether the attackers stole anything from the house.

Paramedics arrived at the house around 1:10 a.m. and pronounced Quintanilla dead at the scene. Myrna Quintanilla was treated for minor wounds but was not taken to the hospital.

The assailants escaped in a blue four-door sedan, deputies said.