Man Points Out 2 Bodies, Then Kills Self

San Diego sheriff’s detectives continue to investigate the deaths of two east San Diego County residents and the suicide of a third man, who they believe shot the pair and directed the deputies to the two bodies.

According to officials, Mark Anthony Jensen, 40, led deputies on a chase through Ramona in a new silver Hummer early Monday morning, roared off-road and then fled on foot when the vehicle became wedged in a ravine. He held deputies at bay by pointing a gun to his head and asked deputies to check on two people in the car.

Officials said Jensen shot himself to death soon after. Authorities then discovered the two bodies in the vehicle.

The names of the 42-year-old man, who owned the Hummer, and the 29-year-old woman were being withheld, pending notification of relatives. Both resided in the Lakeside-El Cajon area, officials said.

Jensen had been released from prison earlier this month and missed his last parole appointment, said Sheriff’s Lt. Terry J. Wisniewski. Sheriff’s reports called Jensen a “third-striker” who had “recently won an appeal and was released from custody.” The San Diego County Court Web site said Jensen had previously struck a man several times on the head with a piece of driftwood after the victim allegedly made a sexual advance toward him.

“As to what caused Mr. Jensen to kill these two people -- and it’s our assumption he killed them in the car -- lead us on a chase, take off on foot and shoot himself, we’re still investigating,” Wisniewski said.

Witnesses saw the trio in an amicable situation before the car chase, Wisniewski said.

“They didn’t say they were arguing or anything like that,” he added.

The slain man and woman were friends, but the extent of their relationship is unknown, Wisniewski said.

He also did not know how the pair knew Jensen.

Deputies began tracking the sport utility vehicle when a woman called at 5 a.m. to report that she was following a car that had just hit her vehicle on California 67, Wisniewski said.

Authorities said deputies spotted the Hummer in the 2200 block of Main Street and tried to stop the vehicle, but Jensen, the driver, would not pull over.

When Jensen hit a dead end on Big Sky Road, the Hummer roared off the road, broke an axle and got wedged in a ravine, Wisniewski said.

According to authorities, Jensen ran out of the vehicle and stumbled.

He then pointed a semiautomatic pistol pointed at his head as he sat on the ground and directed deputies to the vehicle.