Suspect arrested in Pleasanton double homicide of woman and her son

PLEASANTON — A San Jose man has been arrested in the Wednesday morning fatal shootings of a 67-year-old woman and her 28-year-old son inside their home, police said Friday.

Authorities said the man, Allen Swadley, 31, had a dating relationship with a family member of the victims. He was being held without bail at Santa Rita Jail on suspicion of murder and was scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday.

He is suspected of fatally shooting Lori Simonds and her son, Evan Simonds, inside their home in the 3100 block of Joanne Circle.

The bodies were found by police responding to a report of gunshots coming from the residence at 10:05 a.m. The two victims were pronounced dead at the house.

Swadley was identified as a suspect soon after and a warrant was issued for his arrest, authorities said.

Police did not say how they were able to identify Swadley as a suspect.

Late Thursday, San Jose police who had been alerted by license-plate reader data made a traffic stop and contacted Swadley, detaining him without incident. He was transferred into the custody of Pleasanton police and was subsequently booked at Santa Rita Jail.

Police said in a news release that multiple firearms were recovered from Swadley’s vehicle and residence and that further testing will be required to determine if any of the firearms were used in the killings.

Police said he has no prior criminal history and that the department is continuing to investigate the motive for the killings.

In the release, police extended their condolences to the family and friends of the victims.