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SANTA ROSA (KTVU/BCN) - A man and woman identified as a married but recently separated couple died Monday morning in the parking lot in front of a Santa Rosa gym in an apparent murder-suicide, Santa Rosa police said Monday.
The shooting occurred in front of Crunch Fitness at Coddingtown Mall.
According to police, there were reports of a confrontation, then shooting. A man apparently opened fire on his estranged wife around 8:30 a.m. before taking his own life.
The Sonoma County Sheriff's Coroner Office on Monday identified the shooter as 52-year-old Tomas Zamora-Martinez of Santa Rosa, and the victim as his wife, 43-year-old Paula Zamora of Santa Rosa.
An adult woman, later identified as Zamora, was discovered at the scene and was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Police said the woman was inside a white Chevrolet Tahoe SUV that rolled into a parked car in the parking lot.
Witnesses told Santa Rosa police that a man walked up to Zamora's SUV, fired multiple shots and fled in a gold-colored Jeep SUV.
"It appears she was sitting on the driver's side and the male subject walked up and fired multiple shots at her," said Lt. John Cregan with Santa Rosa Police Department.
A stray bullet knocked out the side mirror of a Mazda as its driver was walking toward the car. No one else at the mall was injured.
About 40 minutes after the shooting, police received a 911 call about a man who appeared to be dead behind the wheel of a gold Jeep parked at the end of Herbert Street at the rear entrance to the 2001 Coddingtown Mall apartment complex. This is about three blocks from the first shooting.
The man, identified as Zamora-Martinez, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said he was staying with family at this location.
A handgun, which matched the caliber of the handgun used in the shooting, was found in Zamora-Martinez's hand. The handgun, police said, had been reported stolen in Las Vegas and was not registered in Zamora-Martinez's name.
Santa Rosa police secured the scene and said there are no outstanding suspects.
Police called the incident a "targeted act of violence," during which Zamora-Martinez waited in the gym parking lot for his wife to arrive.
The couple was said to have been together for 27 years, but were separated a few months ago.
"The male was working on reviving the marriage. The wife had expressed interest in a divorce," said Cregan.
Despite the shooting, the mall stayed open, although at least one store owner was told to lock the door of her business.
Shoppers were shocked and frustrated something like this had happened here.
"I park here all the time. It is pretty scary for something like this to happen so close to home," said Leah Terry.
Police said the couple had four children. They range from eight to 25-years-old.
Police continued to investigate Monday night. Anyone who witnessed the shooting is encouraged to call the Santa Rosa Police Violent Crimes Team at (707) 543-3590.
Bay City News reporter Sam Richards contributed to this report.