Child's Body Found in Freezer on Indian Reservation

A 32-year-old man was also shot to death in the incident

A child's dead body was found in a freezer inside a home on the Barona Indian Reservation in California that was the scene of a SWAT standoff Friday.

Deputies discovered the child's body buried beneath frozen food in a freezer inside the garage, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.

Just after noon Friday, deputies received a 911 call from a woman who said her child was dead at a home in the 1500 block of Quincy Canyon Road. Not long after that, a Barona Tribal Enforcement officer received a call to the same address for an attempted suicide.

Once he arrived at the home, the officer found a 32-year-old man, who walked back inside the home after speaking with the officer.

That's when a gunshot rang out, investigators say.

The man's girlfriend soon came out of the house, carrying a shotgun. She dropped the gun as she walked along the dirt road nearby and then hid in some bushes.

A SWAT standoff ensued, with armored SWAT vehicles, fire engines and medical crews lining up on the street outside a home at Dump Road and Quincy Canyon. Canine units were also on the scene.

When deputies finally entered the home, they found the woman's boyfriend dead with a gunshot wound to his chest.

Officials arrested 32-year-old Elaina Rose Welch on two counts of murder. She was booked into the Las Colinas Detention Facility. 

'It appears at this time she did shoot him. It's just a matter of determining what caused that or if there was any circumstances behind that," said Sheriff's Lt. John Maryon.

The woman's aunt confirmed her niece does have a 3-year-old son.

"It's tragic, and if what we believe happened actually happened, it's going to be absolutely devastating," Maryon said.

The San Diego County Medical Examiner has not released either victims' identities or their causes of death.

Barona Charter School was locked down at 1:20 p.m. and students were released to their parents at 2:30 p.m., an hour after normal Friday dismissal time, sheriff's officials said. One student said they were locked down inside their classrooms for 10 minutes before being moved to the gym.

Wildcat Canyon Road was reportedly closed at Founders Way, and another closure was reported at San Vicente Road. Dump Road was also closed at Wildcat Canyon Road.

Homicide detectives continue to investigate. Welch is scheduled to appear in court Thursday.

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