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HANFORD, Calif. — A California community is grappling with grief after their neighbors were involved in a murder-suicide early Sunday morning.
“Yeah, it’s gonna be a little different now..” “we would hear their voices and now we’re not gonna hear that… I don’t know, it kinda just made us happy,” said neighbor Kelly Avila.
A family she and her husband Craig once knew as happy and fun-loving, was torn apart by violence.
“When you hear everything that’s going on, and it’s like listening to an audiobook and you’re trying to just picture what’s happening and everything, it just sounded like it’d be an awesome time,” Craig said.
The initial call came from a home near University and Stanford Avenue in Hanford, California.
Hanford Police say arguing could be heard in the background, before a series of loud noises, believed to be gunshots.
Police arrived at the home within minutes, but before officers could get inside, a final gunshot went off.
“When officers arrived on scene, the first two officers went up to the front door, announced themselves, saw a male walk by a window, and then pulled a gun and shot himself,” said Hanford Police Lieutenant Justin Vallin.
Police say the suspect, 33-year-old Vincent Diaz, forced his way into the home and killed 25-year-old Adrian Valdovinos before taking his own life.
Investigators say Diaz parked his car roughly 100 yards away before approaching the home with a high-capacity firearm.
Valdovinos was dating Diaz’s ex-wife.
The entire sequence unfolded in less than ten minutes.
“It happened very fast. As soon as the officers went up to the residence, they knocked, they announced themselves. Immediately they saw the suspect walk from one side to another side,” said Lt. Vallin.
Valdovinos was well-known in Hanford as a talented young boxer, and police say he and Diaz had no previous conflict.
Diaz and his wife had been separated since August, court records show that she requested a restraining order from him in March that involved their child.
Craig and Lauren Avila had grown fond of hearing the family laugh and play.
Prior to their separation, they say they were the perfect neighbors, and they never expected such a dark outcome.
“You used to be able to hear all of them all of the time, singing, and having a great time in the house and all of that, so for this to happen is just.. It’s sad to see,” Craig said.
Police are still working to figure out how Diaz got a hold of that gun, as he was a convicted felon and legally should not have been in the possession of a firearm.
This is Hanford’s third homicide of the year.
If you are experiencing suicidal, substance use or other mental health crises please call or text the new three digit code at 988. You will reach a trained crisis counselor for free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also go to 988lifeline.org or dial the current toll free number 800-273-8255 [TALK].
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