An off-duty sheriff’s deputy in California tragically took the life of his ex-partner, the mother of his children, before ending his own life during a standoff with the police.
On the evening of August 10, the Santa Rosa Police Department responded to a 911 call made by a neighbor of Mari Bonnici. She was a detention specialist with the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department living in an apartment complex in Santa Rosa.
The neighbor reported that Mari’s ex-partner, 44-year-old Deputy Jeremy Lyle, had handed her a baby and told her to call 911, saying that “the child’s mother was hurt.” He then left the scene.
When officers arrived at Bonnici’s apartment, they forced their way inside and found the 38-year-old woman dead, with at least one gunshot wound. Two young children were also found safe in a back bedroom.
About 30 minutes later, police located Lyle’s truck near the county coroner’s office. They found him standing in the truck bed, holding a handgun to his back.
Police tried to persuade Lyle to surrender for several hours, but their efforts were unsuccessful. Around 2 a.m., several hours after the initial 911 call, Lyle reportedly shot himself, and his death was seen by officers on the scene.
Authorities are looking into the incident as a case of domestic violence, although there were no prior reports of such incidents between Lyle and Bonnici. The couple’s three children are now being looked after by family members.
The Sheriff’s Office expressed deep concern over the tragedy, stating, “We recognize the shock this incident brings to our community. Trust is vital between the community and those dedicated to serving and protecting. No training can fully prepare us for such a tragedy.”
This incident marks the ninth homicide and the third murder-suicide in Santa Rosa this year.
