Oak Park husband-wife feud ends in suicide

A domestic disturbance and apparent suicide roused residents of Firebird Lane in Oak Park on Monday night.

Rick Thompson, 36, assaulted and severely beat his wife, Paula Thompson, 42, before ending his own life, authorities said.

Deps. David Spiker and Jene Martinez of the Ventura County Sheriff's Department arrived in the 5700 block of Firebird Lane after receiving two anonymous calls reporting a domestic disturbance.

The callers said they could hear shouting coming from a nearby residence and could see a man beating a woman there.

Deputies discovered Paula Thompson at the front door, distraught and severely injured, according to officials.

She retreated into the house after deputies arrived. Spiker and Martinez entered the home and found a highly agitated Rick Thompson holding a handgun.

The deputies ushered Paula Thompson and the couple's 2year-old child to safety.

"By placing themselves in harm's way, the deputies were able to prevent Paula Thompson from enduring further injury and possibly even death," said Capt. Ron Nelson, a media liaison for the Ventura County Sheriff's Department.

While they were able to keep Paula Thompson from further injury, deputies were unable to persuade Rick Thompson to give up his weapon. He withdrew into another room where he fatally shot himself.

Paula Thompson was taken to Los Robles Hospital where she was treated for severe blunt trauma wounds. The child was not injured.

Sheriff's Dept. crime detectives and a coroner's investigator are looking into possible motives in the disturbance and shooting.

Thompson had no prior arrest record, officials said.

Thompson's body will undergo a toxicology screening.