An off-duty California Highway Patrol officer is suspected of fatally shooting his wife before turning the gun on himself following a late-night argument at a sports nutrition store.

Brad Wheat, 45, reportedly killed his wife Mary, 42, and seriously injured the 44-year-old owner after he opened fire at the shop in Amador County, California, on Monday  evening.

The Amador County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to a 911 call from the owner, who said he was locked inside his store along with a woman and that her husband was banging on the door.

Brad Wheat, 45, reportedly shot and killed his wife Mary Wheat, 42, and seriously injured a 44-year-old man in a scuffle at a nutrition store in Martell, Amador County, on Monday evening

Brad Wheat, 45, reportedly shot and killed his wife Mary Wheat, 42, and seriously injured a 44-year-old man in a scuffle at a nutrition store in Martell, Amador County, on Monday evening

Deputies arrived at the Get Ripped Nutrition store in Martell, Amador County, at 10.45pm, as shots were being fired.

They found CHP officer Wheat and his wife, the owner of a CrossFit gym two miles north of the scene, dead in the parking lot.

Witnesses told police that Wheat had banged on the door of the shop and eventually fired a gun at the store window to gain access.

Once inside, Mr and Mrs Wheat and the store’s owner struggled and more shots were fired. 

Fight: The owner of the nutrition store called 911 and reported that he was locked inside with a woman and her husband was outside trying to gain access

Tragedy: Mr and Mrs Wheat, who had been together for 24 years, leave behind four children, two sons and two daughters

Tragedy: Mr and Mrs Wheat, who had been together for 24 years, leave behind four children, two sons and two daughters

Tragedy: Mr and Mrs Wheat, who had been together for 24 years, leave behind four children, two sons and two daughters

The Sheriff’s Office said the married couple’s fight ‘spilled out into the parking lot’ where Wheat shot and killed his wife before turning the gun on himself. 

The injured 44-year-old owner was shot in the shoulder and airlifted to hospital.  

Mr and Mrs Wheat, parents of two daughters and two sons, were reportedly well known and much appreciated in the local community.       

A GoFundMe page set up to support their four children describes the couple as having ‘touched countless lives with their selfless love for one another over 24 years, for their children, and for others. 

‘They were beautiful souls- loving, generous, kind, gracious, hilariously funny, intensely devoted to family, and loved Jesus.’   

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