ALPINE, Calif. - Sheriff's homicide detectives were investigating the shooting death of a woman at an Alpine home, which happened during a confrontation between an armed man and deputies.
Deputies saw Justin Meltzer standing near the front door of a residence at Larkspur Drive near Columbine Drive Friday evening holding a handgun to the head of his handcuffed ex-wife Deborah Meltzer, San Diego Sheriff's Lt. Larry Nesbit said.
At some point, deputies and the suspect exchanged gunfire, and the couple retreated into the house, Nesbit said.
A SWAT team tried to rescue her but found her unresponsive, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds, Nesbit said. Justin was found near Deborah and he had a gunshot wound to his leg, he said.
When paramedics arrived, they determined that the 40-year-old woman had died.
Several handguns were found near the suspect. He was taken into custody and transported to an area hospital for treatment, according to Nesbit.
Neighbors said the confrontation began after the couple's sons went next door to visit a neighbor.
"I couldn't get to my house," said Rick Favale, a neighbor who witnessed the incident. "The gunshots were loud, and I so felt for those two boys."
