Woman Fleeing Husband Is Gunned Down

A Laguna Niguel man chased his wife through their neighborhood Monday night and into a neighbor’s home, where he shot her to death in front of a family, authorities and witnesses said.

Dean Rawley, 64, is suspected of killing his wife, Teri, 59. Brandishing a gun, he chased her down their street, Stoney Pointe, just after 8 p.m. Monday. She tried to escape him by running into a neighbor’s home, but he followed close behind and shot several rounds at her, neighbors said. Teri Rawley died at the scene.

What erupted before the chase remained unclear late Monday.

A woman who lives two doors from the shooting said she was with her two children when she heard a woman yelling and then several gunshots.

“We were sitting in the living room when I heard a woman screaming,” said the shaken neighbor. “Then I heard four to six gunshots. It sounded like it was coming from the yard. I immediately hit the security alarm and then called 911.”

The neighbor said she immediately rounded up her children and they all sprawled on the floor for protection. Minutes later, they heard pounding at their front door. She hesitated to respond and another two shots were fired, she said.

The people at her door were the neighbors from the condominium where Teri Rawley had been killed.

Sheriff’s deputies late Monday night were evacuating residents near Rawley’s home, where he apparently was inside and armed.

“There are rifles involved. It’s just a precautionary measure,” said Lt. Jay Mendez. More than 12 deputies’ cars surrounded the home as negotiating teams were called in.

Jerry Baker, 60, who lives across the street from the Rawleys in the development of 95 townhomes, said Dean Rawley helped organized the community’s Neighborhood Watch program in the fall. Since then, Dean Rawley has been its director.

Baker said he last saw Rawley early Monday pinning up Neighborhood Watch fliers.

“He really is a jovial, outgoing individual,” Baker said. The two had played golf together and often chatted outside their homes.

“My wife and I are sitting here thinking, ‘My God, this can’t be true.’ ”

Rawley, who is retired, also serves on the homeowner’s association’s Architectural Committee, which monitors any building changes at the homes.