A heartbreaking domestic violence incident unfolded in Santa Rosa, California, over the weekend, resulting in the deaths of Jeremy Lyle, 44, an off-duty Sonoma County Sheriff’s deputy, and Mari Bonnici, 38, the mother of their three children and a fellow sheriff’s department employee.
According to authorities, the tragedy began Sunday evening at approximately 7 p.m. at an apartment complex located in the 4600 block of Quigg Drive. Jeremy Lyle is believed to have fatally shot his former domestic partner, Mari Bonnici, inside her residence. Following the shooting, Lyle reportedly left the apartment and sought help from a nearby resident, handing over an infant and instructing the woman to call 911, explaining that the baby’s mother was seriously injured.
When responding officers arrived, they found Mari Bonnici on a living room couch suffering from at least one gunshot wound. In a separate bedroom, the couple’s twin toddlers were discovered unharmed. The children, along with the infant, have since been placed in the care of family members.
Mari Bonnici, who also worked for the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department as a detention specialist, leaves behind a legacy of public service alongside her partner and father of her children.
Approximately 30 minutes after the initial shooting, police received reports of Jeremy Lyle’s truck parked outside the Sonoma County Coroner’s Office on Chanate Road. Upon arrival, officers found Lyle standing in the bed of his truck, concealing a handgun behind his back. Negotiators, including SWAT team members, attempted to persuade him to surrender peacefully. Tragically, around 2 a.m. Monday morning, Lyle took his own life at the scene.
Investigators confirmed that Lyle and Bonnici had been in a domestic partnership prior to their separation and shared three young children. While the incident is believed to have stemmed from domestic violence, authorities noted that there were no prior reported incidents of domestic abuse involving the couple.
This tragic event has left a community and family grappling with loss and questions, highlighting the often-hidden complexities of domestic violence.