1 dead, 4 hurt in Calif. dental office shooting

updated 5:37 p.m. ET July 2, 2009

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. - A man distraught that his wife wanted a divorce is suspected in the shooting at a Southern California dental office that killed her and wounded four other employees, police said Thursday.

Jaime Paredes, 30, entered the Family Dental Care office on Wednesday and began shooting with a .30-caliber assault weapon, said Simi Valley police Sgt. Bill Lapin. Killed in the gunfire was Mariela Paredes, 24, who worked in the office.

"It appears they had been separated for two months and Mariela was going to seek a divorce and he did not want that," Lapin said.

Three other employees were seriously wounded, police said. They include Christian Carpio, 18, Lydia Carranza, 41, and Gloria Castrellon, 38. Police said Thursday that they remain hospitalized and that Castrellon was in critical condition. The conditions of the other victims were not known.

A fourth person was grazed by a bullet.

Paredes surrendered to police after a standoff.

The Paredes had one child, a 7-year-old daughter who is in the care of family members, police said.

Simi Valley is about 35 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

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