When a California man shot and killed nearly every member of his family last week, it is said to have brought absolute terror to a wealthy suburban neighborhood close to the San Francisco Bay Area.
According to the Alameda Police Department, Shane Killian, 54, is charged with four counts of first-degree premeditated murder, one act of attempted murder, and related crimes involving firearms.
In addition, he faces other aggravating charges, special claims, including accusations of elder abuse and domestic violence. Authorities claim that the defendant murdered his mother-in-law, father-in-law, wife, and 6-year-old son.
Additionally, Killian is accused of shooting his one-year-old son, who is currently recovering at the UC San Francisco Benioff Children’s Hospital in Oakland, seriously injuring him.
The violence started at the family’s home on Kitty Hawk Road, close to Franciscan Way, on the evening of June 10. Officers were called in by the defendant’s father-in-law, who had momentarily fled the carnage to seek assistance at a neighbor’s residence.
“This is a tragic and sad incident,” Alameda Police Chief Nishant Joshi stated. “And I’ll say this: these are the actions of a coward. I know what happened — I have some idea of what happened. And this person’s actions were those of a coward.”
Investigators have not yet suggested a reason for the killings. Joshi claimed that the shooting of children and the elderly was sufficient evidence of the shooter’s cowardice when questioned about what transpired inside the Killian home that evening.
According to the authorities, there were several gunshots fired and several weapons found inside the house. After being taken into custody, Killian supposedly spoke with authorities, and the inquiry is reportedly still underway.
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Law enforcement stated that the family had recently moved to the area, but they did not provide any other details. Joshi noted that there had only been one previous police contact to the Killians regarding a theft victim.
The defendant’s father-in-law, Miguel Carcamo, “made some statements” to the cops who were helping him in his last moments, according to the police chief. According to authorities, those are the only statements given by any of the victims about what happened.
The dying man left blood on the sidewalk. Following the startling and unprecedented incident in the town, neighbors assisted with cleanup, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
The shooter’s mother, Marta Elena Morales, and wife, Brenda Natali Morales, have been named as the other adult victims. Police later said that among the firearms found from the smashed and shattered residence were a pistol and an illegal AR-style rifle.
Alameda County records state that Killian is being held in the Santa Rita Jail without access to bond. His court date is July 22.
