Lucille Wills, 74

Lucille Wills, a 74-year-old black woman, was shot and killed Saturday, April 12, in the 500 block of East Moorehaven Drive in Carson, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

About 6:34 a.m., L.A. County sheriff’s deputies responded to a call of suspicious circumstances, said Lt. Dave Coleman.

When deputies arrived, they tried to make contact with people inside a house but we unsuccessful. Deputies heard a single gunshot from inside the house, Coleman said.

Authorities began to contain the location and heard another gunshot. The sheriff’s special weapons team was summoned, and homes in the area were evacuated as a precaution, officials said.

About eight hours later, deputies were able to go inside the home and found Wills in a bedroom with stab wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:18 p.m., according to coroner’s records.

Wills’ husband of more than 50 years was also found dead in the home with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities believe that the man killed his wife, then himself. Sheriff's Department Det. Sandy Nava  said authorities are investigating why Wills’ husband would have killed her.

“We know that he recently had some medical issues that may have led to that,” she said. Nava declined to go into further detail.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Nicole Santa Cruz and Ruben Vives