CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Police are investigating an early Sunday morning shooting in which initial reports suggest a Clearlake man killed three of his children and wounded the fourth before fatally shooting himself.
At 12:43 a.m. Sunday, the Clearlake Police Department received a report of a male subject shooting a firearm in the 4700 block of Yarrington Court, according to Sgt. Tim Hobbs.
Hobbs said officers arrived in the area a short time later and contacted a 25-year-old female who called the police.
The officers learned the female had just been at a residence on Yarrington Court with her husband, 39-year-old Ricardo Lopez, and their four children, Hobbs said.
For unknown reasons Ricardo Lopez, who was outside the residence, began shooting a firearm and she ran away to get help, according to Hobbs.
Officers went to the residence on Yarrington Court and located Ricardo Lopez deceased laying in the driveway. Hobbs said Lopez had what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound and was in possession of a firearm.
Officers located the couple’s four children inside a SUV parked in the driveway. Three of the children – ages 9 months, 2 years and 4 years – were deceased from apparent gunshot wounds, Hobbs said.
A fourth child, age 5, was alive and had a gunshot wound to the chest, according to Hobbs.
Hobbs said officers rendered medical aid to the 5-year-old while waiting for medical personnel to arrive.
Once medical personnel arrived, the child was transported to Adventist Health Clear Lake Hospital then flown to an out-of-county hospital. As of Sunday morning, Hobbs said the child was in stable condition.
“Clearlake Police detectives responded to the location and are in the process of investigating the circumstances that led to this tragic incident,” Hobbs said.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact Detective Leonardo Flores at 707-994-8251, Extension 315, or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..