Woman Killed, Man Wounded In Attempted Ramona Murder-Suicide

RAMONA, CA – Authorities Thursday released the names of a man and woman found shot -- the latter fatally -- in a possible murder-suicide attempt in a neighborhood near Mount Gower County Preserve.

An unidentified person made a 911 call shortly after noon Wednesday to report that one person had been killed and another had committed suicide at a home in the 24400 block of Del Amo Road in Ramona, according to sheriff's officials. After making that statement, the caller hung up, Lt. Rich Williams said.

Deputies arrived at the residence to find 22-year-old Samantha Benegas of El Cajon dead inside and 35-year-old Bryan Hinkle of Ramona badly wounded nearby.

Hinkle was airlifted to a trauma center for treatment of what was believed to be a non-survivable wound.

Investigators found a gun at the scene of the shootings.

An autopsy determined that Benegas had been fatally shot. Her death has been ruled a homicide, the lieutenant said.

Officials have disclosed no suspected motive for the deadly violence and have not revealed the relationship, if any, between Benegas and Hinkle. The identity of the 911 caller remained unknown Thursday afternoon, Williams said.

By City News Service / Image via Shutterstock