In the second such case of its kind to stun the 24-680 Corridor in recent weeks, a man is suspected of murdering a woman – in this case a former girlfriend – before turning the gun on himself.
Police responded to an address in the North Homestead neighborhood in Walnut Creek at 6:50 a.m. Tuesday in answer to reports of shots being fired. Officers arrived, made access and found two people dead of gunshot wounds inside the residence.
The Contra Costa County coroner’s office identified the pair as Walnut Creek resident Clare Orton, 19, and Lafayette resident Scott Bertics, 21. Police said Bertics, who had a previous relationship with Orton, allegedly shot her as she answered the door and then took his own life.
Both Orton and Bertics were involved in track and field at their respective schools, Orton at Las Lomas in Walnut Creek, Bertics at Acalanes High School in Lafayette. Police said Orton was home after her first year at San Diego State. Bertics was studying engineering at Stanford.
The case is the second of its kind to occur in the 24/680 since July 6, when Alamo resident Edward Perry, 77, shot and killed his wife Patricia before turning the gun on himself. That shooting occurred in the 700 block of Glen Eagle Court in the Crow Canyon Country Club.
Anyone with information on the latest shooting case is encouraged to call the WCPD at 925-943-5844.
So sad. Where did the gun come from?
Unbelievable
Two young people. bright. bright futures. good homes. And then this. Just sick and sad.
Crazy sad
WHERE DID HE GET THE GUN?
I would bet they are looking at their cell phone records as we speak. We know from experience that kids of all stripes are incredibly sophisticated when it comes to hiding their tracks from mom and dad and even their best friends.