By Katrina Cameron and Chris De Benedetti
Bay Area News Group
Posted: 07/06/2015 04:09:10 PM PDT
# Comments
DANVILLE -- Police are investigating the deaths of a married couple inside
their home Monday morning, saying the shootings were a murder-suicide.
Around 7:40 a.m., officers responded to a 911 hang-up call in the 700 block of
Glen Eagle Court near Crow Canyon Country Club, Danville police Chief Steve
Simpkins said.
"When our officers were on scene, they went to the door and heard what they
believe was a gunshot," Simpkins said. "They backed away from the door and
waited until it was safe for them to make entry."
When officers entered the home, they found Edward Perry, 77, dead from a
gunshot wound, Simpkins said.
Officers searched the home and found his 67-year-old wife, Patricia Perry, in
the kitchen, also dead from two gunshot wounds, he said.
No one else was home when the shootings occurred, Simpkins said. The home was
locked and it didn't appear that anyone forced their way into the home, which
leads police to believe that this incident was a murder-suicide.
This was the first murder in Danville since 2009, Simpkins said.
Details of the factors leading to the shootings were unavailable, he said. The
department is also reviewing a report of officers being called out to the
Perry residence in 2011 for a domestic disturbance report, where no arrests
were made.
Simpkins called the shooting "a tragedy." "Our hearts go out to all the
involved families and the city employees to our neighbors of the south," he
said.
Patricia "Pat" Perry was a longtime city employee in
San Ramon, said Assistant City Manager Eric Figueroa. She started her
career with the city in
July 1989 as the city clerk and redevelopment
secretary. She retired as a division manager in 2011.
"She was certainly more than an employee to the people of San Ramon," Figueroa
said. "(She was) a real treasured person to have, and we're heartbroken by
what's happened today; still in shock."
After retirement, Patricia Perry contracted with the city as a special project
consultant for four years, where she served several roles for the city manager
and executive team, Figueroa said.
Patricia Perry was "known as the 'goddess of all' in our community because she
could really do anything at the city of San Ramon," he said. She showed
Figueroa the ropes of the city when he started his job last September.
"I think what I appreciate the most about Pat was her kindness to me, and it
really showed why everybody really loved her so much; it's because of her
heart and her passion, and just her real connection to the people there," he
said. "She was just a joy to work with on the regular basis and I couldn't
think of anybody better to introduce me to the city of San Ramon."
Anyone with information about the fatal shootings can call police at
925-314-3700.