Man fatally shoots wife, then himself during child-custody exchange
A 50-year-old Mission Viejo man shot and killed his wife before taking his own life Friday night during a child-custody exchange, Orange County sheriff’s officials said.
Deputies responded to reports of a shooting about 8:30 p.m. at an apartment complex in the 26800 block of La Alameda in Mission Viejo, according to a sheriff’s statement. The bodies were discovered outside the female’s vehicle in the parking area of the complex.
The deceased were identified as Scott E. Gimbell and Linda Sachs Gimbell, 44, of San Clemente, authorities said.
The incident is being investigated as a murder-suicide, authorities said. Investigators believe Scott shot and killed his wife with a handgun before turning the weapon on himself.
The Gimbels’ 13-year-old and 7-year-old children were present during the Halloween night shooting but were not injured, authorities said. The handgun believed to be used in the shootings was recovered at the scene.
Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at (714) 647-7000. Anonymous tips may also be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or at occrimestoppers.org.
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