Mercedes S Lopez Witterman, 69

Mercedes Witterman, a 69-year-old Latina, was found dead Monday, Jan. 16, in the 13600 block of Gavina Avenue in Sylmar, according to police and Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

About 4:50 p.m., a person called police and told them a homicide had just occurred in a home, police said.  It was unclear whether an armed person was still inside the home, so the SWAT Team responded and entered the home about 9 p.m. Witterman, who had been shot, was dead in the bedroom, said Los Angeles Police Det. Rich Wheeler.

Her husband, 84-year-old Rubin Witterman, was also found dead inside the house. Police believe that the man shot his wife, called 911, then shot himself.

Mercedes Witterman used a wheelchair, and her husband was her caretaker, Wheeler said.

“It was getting difficult for him to care for his wife,” he said.

Anyone with information can call LAPD Valley Bureau detectives at (818) 374-9550. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Times staff writers Brittny Mejia and Emily Alpert Reyes contributed to this report.

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @nicolesantacruz and @latimeshomicide on Twitter.