Fundraisers have been launched to support a family grieving over the loss of a Richmond couple killed Monday in what police suspect was a murder-suicide.
On Thursday, the Contra Costa County Coroner’s Office identified the couple as Erick Magallon Izquierdo, 33, and Claudia Justinian Mendoza, 28.
In the wake of the tragedy, The Latina Center in Richmond released a statement asking the community to support the Magallon family through donations. Those wishing to offer support can send donations to The Latina Center at 3727 Barrett Avenue, Richmond CA 94805.
A taco sale will be held to raise funds for the grieving family on Friday at 3 p.m. at 801 Chesley Ave. in Richmond, according to the The Latina Center.
Erick’s sister, Yuri Magallon, has also established a fundraiser on Facebook. Yuri said the family hopes to repatriate the bodies of the couple and lay them to rest in the city of Morelia, Michoacán. The couple leaves behind three children, who are in the care of their uncles at present, according to the fundraiser.
At about 9 a.m. Monday, police responded to a home in the 700 block of Thomas Drive in the city’s Parchester Village neighborhood to conduct a welfare check, Richmond police Sgt. Aaron Pomeroy said. A man had reported that he was watching his brother’s children overnight but his brother had not picked them up and was not answering his phone.
Police were unable to open the front door, so they summoned help from the Richmond Fire Department, which used a pry tool to remove the door from the hinges, Pomeroy said.
After entering the home, police found the bodies lying on the floor. Both had been shot.
Homicide investigators believe the deaths were a murder-suicide, although the official cause of death is pending an investigation by the coroner’s office. Further details about the case were not released.
