San Bernardino County deputies arrested Samuel Tomasello after his 19-year-old stepson told 911 he had shot him and his mother, Denise Stovall.

The first account in this case came from a wounded 19-year-old on the phone with a dispatcher, who named his stepfather. Deputies said the stepfather walked out and was detained without incident. Booking on suspicion of murder is the start of the case. The San Bernardino County District Attorney still has to decide what to file, and no motive has been made public. So far, the 911 call is the clearest piece of evidence, and the charging decision is still ahead.

Samuel Alfred Tomasello, 41, of Victorville, was arrested Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, on suspicion of murder after his wife and his 19-year-old stepson were shot at their home, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said, as reported by KTLA and Patch. Denise Stovall, 39, died. Her son survived.

Deputies were sent at about 8:17 a.m. to a report of an assault with a firearm in the 14000 block of Hopland Street, the sheriff's department said, according to Patch. The caller was the 19-year-old. He told dispatchers that his stepfather, Tomasello, had shot him and his mother, Patch reported. When deputies arrived, they ordered everyone in the home to come outside. The 19-year-old walked out with a gunshot wound to his abdomen. Tomasello came out and was detained without incident, officials said.

Inside, deputies found Stovall with multiple gunshot wounds and performed CPR until paramedics arrived, Patch reported, citing the sheriff's department. She and her son were taken to a local hospital, where she died. He was treated and released. Detectives from the sheriff's Homicide Detail took over the investigation. Tomasello was booked into the High Desert Detention Center and remained in custody Monday, Oct. 19, Patch reported.

The sheriff's department has not publicly described a motive, and the outlets did not report whether any other people were in the home. They also did not report the name of a lawyer for Tomasello or the date of his first court appearance. As of Monday's reports, the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office had not announced charges. Investigators asked anyone with information to call the Homicide Detail at 909-890-4904. Anonymous tips can go to We-Tip at 844-909-3006. A booking on suspicion of murder is an arrest, not a charge, and not a conviction. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.