Man shoots wife, wife's uncle to death in Long Beach, victim's family says

LONG BEACH, Calif. - Three people are dead, including the alleged gunman, following a murder-suicide in Long Beach Monday.

The Long Beach Police Department responded to a call of a shooting in the 300 block of East 63rd Street around 11:15 a.m. on Monday, September 16. Upon arrival, police found a man dead in a vehicle and a woman with gunshot wounds lying on the ground. The man, also with gunshot wounds, was pronounced at the scene. The woman was taken to the hospital, where she was eventually pronounced dead.

Officers learned that the suspect had fled into a nearby home.. Officers established a perimeter, called SWAT, and deployed a K9. SWAT negotiators attempted to make contact with the suspect but were unsuccessful. After obtaining a search warrant, officers deployed CS gas and a K9 unit. 

Once officers entered the house, they found the suspect dead inside with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

A firearm was recovered at the scene. 

According to the woman's family, the woman's husband shot her. After the woman was shot, the woman's uncle – who pulled up to the area to help – was then shot by the alleged gunman.

According to Long Beach Police, the suspect was identified as 51-year-old Christopher Barnes. The woman was identified as 51-year-old Shoneka Lars and the male victim was identified as 71-year-old Donnell Crosby.

Loved ones described Shoneka as "the sweetest person you'd ever want to meet."

A motive for the shooting is unknown.