Sheriff’s Office investigating alleged murder-suicide on Ukiah’s Burke Hill Road

MENDOCINO Co., 5/22/22 — The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) is investigating a potential murder-suicide with a firearm that occurred on Friday, May 20 at a residence at the 4900 block of Burke Hill Road in Ukiah, and the agency is requesting information from the public. According to the Sheriff’s Office press release, deputies were first called to the location by the victim’s son, where they found two people deceased: suspect Shawn M. Stark, a 57-year-old man from Ukiah, and his 56-year-old wife Suzanne Stark.

The press release notes that the initial investigation “showed evidence of a murder/suicide wherein Shawn Stark killed Suzanne Stark with use of a shotgun before committing suicide with the same firearm,” and that there were reports that the couple was involved in an argument prior to the shooting. An autoposy is currently planned for May 25, 2022.