A 41-year-old Petaluma man shot his wife, then turned the gun on himself outside a divorce attorney's office on Keller Street on Sunday.
The shooter has been identified as Kevin Conover, 41, and the victim his estranged wife Kim Conover, 43, according to Petaluma police. Both were taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital where they succumbed to their injuries.
Police said they received several 911 calls around 2 p.m.
According to police, Kim Conover arrived to see her divorce attorney, Jeffrey Zimmerman, and was leaving his 10 Keller St. office when she was confronted by her soon to be ex-husband Kevin. Police say Kevin shot Kim and then shot himself. Hearing the shots, Zimmerman, the attorney, ran outside where he was noticed by police just arriving to the scene.
Because police initially believed Zimmerman was involved in the shooting, a standoff ensued as multiple officers drew their guns and pointed them in his direction as anxious passersby crowded around. Zimmerman was handcuffed and questioned, but then released when police realized he had not been involved in the shooting.
Police said this is the first shooting in Petaluma this year.
The couple have two children--18 month old twin boy and girl--and had recently separated, leading Kim to move out of their home and in with her parents. Kim Conover also has two daughters from a previous marriage, ages 12 and 15.
Jealousy was possibly a factor in the murder, according to friends, who say that Kevin had seen a name and number in Kim's cell phone that he didn't recognize and became suspicious that she was having an affair.
In one Facebook post, Conover called out a man he believed was sleeping with his wife, saying he was a common lothario who preyed on women who were going through hard times "with no conscience whatsoever."
But Kim's family says the man was just a friend to whom Conover had reached out to following her separation.
Did you know Kim or Kevin Conover? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
