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Update: The suspect arrested has been identified as Justin Metzer. ECM news partner 10 News reports that a family friend has identified the murder victim as Debra Meltzer, his ex-wife. The couple's young children were not in the home and are safe, 10 News reported.
December 24, 2011 (Alpine) -- At about 6:24 p.m. on Friday, December 23, Alpine patrol deputies responded to a call of a man holding a gun to the head of a handcuffed woman in the 2300 block of Larkspur Drive, Alpine. Deputies arrived and contacted the man, who was standing near the front door of the home, holding a handgun to the head of a woman handcuffed with her hands in front of her. At some point during the contact, the deputies and the male suspect fired several rounds from their weapons.
The man and his female victim entered the home. Deputies on-scene immediately requested the assistance of Sheriff’s Crisis Negotiators and the Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Detail (S.E.D. - S.W.A.T.). S.E.D. members arrived and initiated a high-risk entry in an attempt to rescue the female victim.
Deputies entered the home and located the female victim suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. She was unresponsive. The male suspect was near the victim and had suffered an apparent gunshot wound to his leg. Several handguns were found near the male. The male was taken into custody without incident. Paramedics entered the home and determined the female had succumbed to her injuries. The male was transported to an area hospital for treatment.
Investigators from the Alpine Sheriff's Station, Santee Sheriff's Station, Homicide Detail, U.S. Border Patrol, and Sheriff's Crime Lab are participating in this invesgitation.
According to the Medical Examiner’s office, the woman died of a gunshot wound to the chest.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Homicide Detail at (858) 974-2321/after hours at (858) 565-5200 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-TIPS(8477).
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