‘Very nice’ California couple found dead by teen daughter in suspected murder-suicide

San Diego County officials said Friday that a couple was found dead by their 14-year-old daughter inside the family’s El Cajon home in what was ruled a murder-suicide incident.

Eric Orpinela, 42, and Denise Orpinela, 39, were pronounced dead at the scene after their teen daughter called police to report the gruesome incident at around 9:30 a.m.

Both victims had trauma to their torsos and heads. The medical examiner’s office later determined that both suffered fatal gunshot wounds ruling the incident as a murder-suicide perpetrated by Eric Orpinela.

The couple’s three children, aged 14, 13, and 9, were all at home at the time.

“We’re in shock. We’re in shock. We never expected this. We saw them just yesterday,” neighbor Ana Almaguer said. “They were nice people. Very, very nice people.”

Just days prior to the massacre, the couple seemed excited at the graduation celebration of their oldest daughter.

“They looked excited because they are moving out of state, selling their home. They seemed very happy. The kids were always great, always saying hi, always playing in the park. They had no fear,” the neighbor added.