Bloomington man accused of killing estranged brother in California murder-suicide, police say

Staff report

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — May 15, 2026

A Bloomington man traveled more than 2,000 miles to California, secretly rented a house next door to his estranged brother and fatally shot him before setting the rental home on fire and dying by suicide, Santa Clara police said.

Santa Clara Police Chief Cory Morgan identified the suspect as Matthew Heflin, 49, of Bloomington, Indiana, and the victim as Mark Heflin, 52, of Santa Clara, California. Police said the brothers had been estranged for about three years.

The shooting happened around 12:30 p.m. May 8 in the 600 block of Enright Avenue in Santa Clara. Police said Matthew Heflin had traveled from Bloomington in a rental vehicle with multiple firearms and ammunition and had arrived in the San Jose area around April 14. Investigators said he rented the home next to his brother’s residence three days before the killing, and Mark Heflin and his family were unaware he was staying there.

Police said Mark Heflin was outside retrieving something from his vehicle when Matthew Heflin approached him. After a brief exchange, Matthew Heflin allegedly pulled a firearm concealed in a paper bag and opened fire. Investigators recovered at least 12 spent shell casings in front of the residence, police said.

After the shooting, police said Matthew Heflin retreated toward the rental home, fired additional rounds toward the victim’s vehicle and home, then went inside the rental property and intentionally set a rear bedroom on fire. Officers later found his body inside the burned residence.

The Santa Clara County Medical Examiner’s Office said Mark Heflin died from multiple gunshot wounds. Police described the case as a targeted homicide followed by suicide. Investigators have not publicly released a motive.

Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor addressed Mark Heflin’s family during a news conference, saying, “A husband is gone. A father is gone. And no words from any of us can fill that absence,” according to ABC7 Bay Area.

The Bloomingtonian has reached out to the Santa Clara Police Department for more information about the investigation, including whether authorities searched Matthew Heflin’s Bloomington residence and whether police have identified any local connection to the case beyond Heflin’s residence in Indiana.

Police said there is no ongoing threat to the public.

Anyone with information may contact Santa Clara police Detective Sgt. Douglas Bell at 408-615-4814 or dbell@santaclaraca.gov. Anonymous tips may be left at 408-615-4847.

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