Man, Woman Found Dead After SWAT Standoff

Deceased man and woman said to be in military

A nearly three and a half hour stand-off outside a Serra Mesa home ended Wednesday evening after police found the dead bodies of a man and woman inside the residence. An 18-month-old toddler was found alive inside the home. 

The incident began at about 12:39 p.m. when a man allegedly called police claiming that he had killed his wife and that he was going to take his own life. The call came from a home in the 3300 block of Wainright Lane and Hurlbut Street, which is just south of Montgomery Field, according to police.

A neighbor in the area also called to report a disturbance, police said.

When police arrived on the scene, an officer spotted a woman attempting to leave the home when a man dragged her back inside the residence, police said.

Officers heard screaming and words exchanged, at which point they called for backup. Police said the woman screamed that the man had a gun.

SWAT team officials later arrived with rifles drawn as well as the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. NBC San Diego has learned that both the man and woman who were found dead were in the military.

Officers evacuated nearby houses and called in special weapons and tactics personnel to surround the residence and prepare to forcibly enter it, if necessary, said Andra Brown, an SDPD official.

Officials were unable to make contact with anyone inside the residence during the standoff and shortly after 3:50 p.m., when they were able to get into the home, they found the man and woman dead.

Police have not said how the two died and are calling this a homicide investigation.

A toddler was seen being taken away from the residence minutes after the bodies were found.
Neighbors, including Sharon Washington, watched the event unfold.

"There's nothing we can do about it now but put the family in our prayers," said Washington. "Mostly the kids. Surround them with love and all the attention they're going to need."

The man and woman reportedly have a 5-year-old daughter along with the 18-month-old child. Both children are said to be with relatives as the investigation continues. The 18-month-old taken from the home was not reported to be injured during the incident.

The names of the deceased man and woman were not immediately released.

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