Authorities say neighborhood feud potential motive in Southern California shooting deaths

Neighborhood feud blamed in Calif. shooting deaths

POWAY, Calif. — A neighborhood feud was one likely motive behind the Easter Sunday shooting deaths of a couple in their home by a man who was then slain by San Diego County sheriff’s deputies, authorities said.

Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims or the gunman, but Donald Cunnyngham told the San Diego Union-Tribune on Monday that his brother Mitch Cunnyngham, 58, and Mitch’s wife Diana Cunnyngham, 56, were killed when their neighbor, Robert Reed opened fire through a sliding glass door in the back of the home.

Two deputies shot the suspect when he pointed a shotgun at them as they approached and refused commands to drop it, sheriff’s Lt. Dennis Brugo said.

The gunman, who was in his 50s, died at the scene.

The man, armed with the shotgun and a revolver, walked to his neighbors’ house as they were finishing Easter dinner and their son was on the lawn preparing to leave, Brugos said.

The son saw the gunman and went inside to warn the family. His father got a gun but did not have a chance to use it before the gunman opened fire, walking around the outside of the house as he pumped bullets, Brugos said.

The son escaped through a window. His wife and daughter were inside but unhurt, Brugos said.

Donald Cunnyngham told the Union-Tribune that the family’s problems with Reed began about 10 years ago when Reed became upset about a car being parked on the street in front of his house.