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Tampa Man Shoots Estranged Wife, Then Self, Police Say

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A woman was found shot to death in the doorway of this home on Flora Street in Tampa on Tuesday night.

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By VALERIE KALFRIN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 4, 2007

Updated: 12/05/2007 10:56 am

Video Of The Investigations

TAMPA - A man estranged from his wife fatally shot her when she visited him Tuesday night, then later killed himself, Tampa police said.

Humberto Cruz, 65, and his wife, Mindrey Rodriguez-Sanchez, 30, were divorcing and had been living apart, police said.

About 7 p.m. Tuesday, police responded to Cruz's house at 204 W. Flora St., where Rodriguez-Sanchez was just inside the doorway, fatally shot, police said. The house was decorated with Christmas lights and Christmas music was playing, police said.

The couple's two children, both younger than 9 years old, were not there, Cpl. Jared Douds said.

Neither was Cruz.

Police found Cruz dead shortly before 7 a.m. today after people walking along North River Shore Drive near West Hiawatha Street reported a man lying on the grassy riverbank.

Cruz, who appeared to have walked the roughly four or so blocks from his home to the riverbank, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, Douds said.

Police recovered his handgun and are investigating whether it was used to shoot Rodriguez-Sanchez, Douds said. Detectives did not find a suicide note.

The couple's children are in the care of relatives, Douds said.

"Our hearts truly go out to the families in this case," he said.

Public records show that Cruz, under the name Humbert Cruz, was charged with misdemeanor domestic battery in September. A Tampa police report states Rodriguez-Sanchez said he grabbed her around the neck during an argument.

Court records show the case was closed in November, with Cruz referred to a pretrial diversion program. He has no other criminal record, according to a check of Florida Department of Law Enforcement and national databases.

Relatives in South Carolina declined to speak to a reporter today.

TBO producer Beth Gaddis and Tribune reporter Chris Echegaray contributed to this story. Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800 or vkalfrin@tampatrib.com.

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