Authorities believe 25-year-old Joey Demello shot the two victims, and then kidnapped his ex-girlfriend. A SWAT team raided Demello's home, but found nothing. Officials then issued an arrest warrant.
Later that day, investigators found Demello's body near the city of Needles. Detectives say he apparently shot himself to death. The woman Demello allegedly kidnapped was found safe. However, the story took a twist when authorities learned the weapon he used was recently stolen from a San Bernardino County sheriff's deputy.
"The details regarding the theft of the handgun are not being released at this time. However, the deputy did follow policy by reporting the gun stolen," said Cindy Beavers, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
The weapon was a Glock .45, which leaves many questioning how the gun ended up in the suspect's hands. Rialto police officer Gary Cunningham says it does happen.
"Just like anybody else, my residence got broken into years ago when I was a reserve police officer and they took my duty weapon," said Cunningham. "We had another officer from my department ... they broke into his house and removed several weapons from his residence," said Cunningham.
Cunningham says policy only requires officers to lock up their weapons when there are children in the home. But putting a gun inside a safe won't completely avoid theft.
"And even with the safe, my safe is small where they can take the whole safe out and work on it someplace else, they don't have to break it open right there in my house," said Cunningham.
Investigators say, once more, the deputy whose gun was stolen followed procedure and is still on duty while the investigation continues.
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