Three people were found dead in a suspected Marin County murder-suicide inside a home on Strawberry Circle in Strawberry, an unincorporated waterfront community near Mill Valley, on the afternoon of Sunday, Oct. 11. The dead were identified as Kevin Mannix, 68, a retired San Francisco Police Department sergeant; his wife Ann Mannix, 65, a retired SFPD deputy chief; and their 24-year-old daughter, Katie Mannix. The Marin County Sheriff’s Office said the preliminary investigation indicates a double murder-suicide, with Kevin Mannix identified as the suspected shooter.
TL;DR: Retired SFPD Sgt. Kevin Mannix is the suspected shooter in a suspected murder-suicide that killed his wife, retired SFPD Deputy Chief Ann Mannix, and their 24-year-old daughter Katie at their Marin County home on Oct. 11. Deputies responded to a 911 call about shots fired and found all three dead. The sheriff’s office says the investigation is in its early stages.
Image: Downtown Mill Valley, Marin County, California. Photo: bayarea.com
A 911 Call Brought Deputies to Strawberry Circle
The investigation began shortly after 5 p.m. on Sunday, when the Marin County Sheriff’s Office dispatch center received a 911 call reporting a shooting inside a home on Strawberry Circle, according to a sheriff’s office statement. The caller was a resident of the home who was able to get out safely, authorities said.
Deputies arrived at the scene within minutes, made contact with the person who called, and set a small perimeter around the residence before making what investigators called a “safe entry.” Inside, they discovered three deceased adults. Detectives from the sheriff’s office investigations unit remained at the scene Sunday night, Police1 reported, citing the San Francisco Chronicle.
On Monday, the sheriff’s office confirmed the identities of the three as Kevin Mannix, 68; Ann Elizabeth Corriea Mannix, 65; and Katherine Elizabeth Mannix, 24, all residents of the unincorporated Mill Valley area. Miguel Almaguer, the sheriff’s public information officer, said the “preliminary investigation indicates a suspected double-murder suicide involving three individuals,” and later named Kevin Mannix as the suspected shooter at a news briefing, according to Fox News. The sheriff’s office said there was no ongoing threat to the community.
A Trailblazing Career Cut Short
Ann Mannix was one of the most decorated officers in recent SFPD history. She made history as the first woman to join the department’s SWAT team and later led the unit. She was promoted to deputy chief of the Field Operations Bureau in 2018 and assigned to oversee the Special Operations Bureau in 2019, retiring in 2021, according to the department and the San Francisco Police Officers Association.
SFPOA President Louis Wong called her a “trailblazer” and said the news “has left our entire SFPD family reeling,” KTVU reported. SFPD Chief Derrick Lew issued a statement confirming that Kevin and Ann Mannix were retired San Francisco police officers and that Katie was the couple’s daughter, adding that he had been in touch with Marin County Sheriff Jamie Scardina about the investigation.
Kevin Mannix retired from the SFPD in 2018 after 27 years on the force, according to the Chronicle. Retired Capt. Alexa O’Brien, a former colleague, described him to the New York Post as quiet and mild-mannered, saying nothing in his demeanor ever suggested he was capable of such violence.
What Investigators Have – and Haven’t – Said
Authorities have been careful to call the case a suspected murder-suicide, stressing that the investigation is in its early stages. Autopsies for all three victims were scheduled for Tuesday, officials said.
The Chronicle described the couple as estranged, while a close family friend told The California Post, as reported by the New York Post, that Ann Mannix had confided there were difficulties in the marriage – though the friend believed the couple were not estranged. No official motive has been released. The SFPOA said there were no words to fully capture the depth of the tragedy, and colleagues across the Bay Area law enforcement community are mourning a family that spent its professional lives in public service.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Marin County shooting?
On the afternoon of Sunday, Oct. 11, three people were found dead inside a home on Strawberry Circle in Strawberry, an unincorporated community near Mill Valley in Marin County. The Marin County Sheriff’s Office said the preliminary investigation indicates a suspected double murder-suicide.
Who were the people killed?
The three were identified as Kevin Mannix, 68, a retired SFPD sergeant; his wife Ann Mannix, 65, a retired SFPD deputy chief; and their 24-year-old daughter, Katie Mannix. All three were residents of the unincorporated Mill Valley area.
Who is the suspected shooter?
Marin County Sheriff’s Office public information officer Miguel Almaguer specifically identified Kevin Mannix as the suspected shooter at a news briefing. Authorities emphasize this is a preliminary finding and the investigation is in its early stages.
Who was Ann Mannix?
Ann Mannix was a trailblazing San Francisco police officer. She was the first woman to join and later lead the SFPD’s SWAT team, was promoted to deputy chief of the Field Operations Bureau in 2018, oversaw the Special Operations Bureau in 2019, and retired in 2021. SFPOA President Louis Wong called her a trailblazer.
Who was Kevin Mannix?
Kevin Mannix was a retired SFPD sergeant who served 27 years on the force before retiring in 2018. A former colleague described him as quiet and mild-mannered and said nothing in his demeanor suggested he was capable of violence.
Is there a known motive?
No official motive has been released. The San Francisco Chronicle described the couple as estranged, while a family friend said the marriage had difficulties but the couple were not estranged. The sheriff’s office says the investigation is ongoing.
Is there a threat to the public?
No. The Marin County Sheriff’s Office said there is no ongoing threat to the community. Autopsies for all three victims were scheduled for Tuesday.
