California nonprofit official found dead with wife in apparent murder-suicide

A California nonprofit official and his wife were found dead at their home in Los Angeles, according to police and local reports. Authorities believe he killed her before taking his own life.

The shooting was reported at 10:50 a.m. Tuesday in the 600 block of Superba Avenue in Venice, a Los Angeles neighborhood about 15 miles west of downtown. Officers found Jeremy Ferguson and his wife, Mandy Zelinka, dead inside the home.

The Los Angeles Times, citing a law enforcement source familiar with the incident, reported that both Ferguson and Zelinka had fatal gunshot wounds.

Ferguson served as director of operations for Downtown Santa Monica Inc., a nonprofit organization that works with the coastal city of Santa Monica on business, community and public safety programs in its downtown area.

NBC4 reported that Ferguson had emailed a friend a suicide note and instructions on how to get inside the home, citing sources familiar with the investigation. It’s believed Ferguson shot his wife and then turned the gun on himself, the station reported.

A possible motive has not been disclosed.