Inspector Dead in Shooting Over Home Sale Dispute

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A family dispute about selling a California home led to the shooting death of a home inspector on Saturday, according to police reports.

The dispute in Huntington Beach also left three injured by gunshot wounds, including the suspected gunman.

Michael Alderson, 66, died from a gunshot wound shortly after being taken to a local hospital. Two other victims, whom police have not publicly identified, are related to the suspected shooter and are real estate professionals. Both remain hospitalized.

“Based upon the preliminary investigation, it is believed that the shooting was related to a family dispute pertaining to the upcoming sale of the residence,” Police Capt. Tim Martin of the Huntington Beach Police Department said, as reported by The Orange County Register. “A group of real estate professionals accompanied a family member to view the residence when the shooting took place.”

A neighbor told The Orange County Register that he had seen a For Sale sign in the front of the house that had been ripped out of the ground and knocked over on a daily basis. The sign kept being put back up. The neighbor also said people had been working on the front yard the day before the shooting.

The suspected gunman, who had a superficial gunshot wound, surrendered shortly after police arrived on the scene. The investigation is ongoing.

View safety resources from the National Association of REALTORS®.

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