On August 31st, 2021, officers from the Anaheim Police Department were dispatched to the 2400 block of West Greenleaf, after a 911 call came through from a man stating he had been shot. At around 11:55 a.m., officers arrived on the scene and began investigating the area.

As officers approached the residence, they attempted to enter the front door, however it was locked. After receiving no response at the front door, officers broke down the door, entered the residence and announced their presence. Under extreme suspicion, officers began clearing the home cautiously, while utilizing ballistic shields for protection.

Upon reaching the end of the hallway, officers located another locked door, where they could hear someone suffering from an injury on the other side. As one officer kicked in the door, an additional officer immediately noticed the suspect had a gunshot wound. In addition, they observed an additional male subject with a head wound. It wasn’t until a few seconds later the leading officer spotted the suspect, armed with a handgun, now pointing it at them.

In response, the officer discharged six shots into the room, striking the already wounded suspect. The responding officers exited the home and secured the area until SWAT officers arrived on the scene. While clearing the home a second time, SWAT officers located the male suspect in the same location of the home, now deceased. The suspect was later identified as 55-year-old Robert Nelson. Along with Nelson, was 61-year-old David Erickson. Erickson was also pronounced deceased on the scene, as he suffered a gunshot wound to the head.

It is still unclear to the investigation team as to why Nelson shot and killed Erickson. After an autopsy was performed, the coroner reported the shots fired by the responding officer were non-life threatening. Prior to their arrival, Nelson had shot himself three-times in the chest.