A body that was found in a burned residence in Santa Clara last week was the remains of a man who traveled from Indiana to California and shot his brother to death before killing himself in the fire, according to police.

In a news conference on Thursday, Santa Clara Police Chief Cory Morgan identified the suspect as 49-year-old Matthew Heflin of Bloomington, Indiana, and the victim as 52-year-old Santa Clara resident Mark Heflin.

At about 12:25 p.m. on May 8, police were called to the 600 block of Enright Avenue. Witnesses said they heard gunshots in the area and they saw an armed man near the residence.

Just before 12:30 p.m., officers arrived and saw a man with multiple gunshot wounds outside his home. They took him and gave him immediate medical aid as “gunfire continued nearby,” according to Morgan.

While they were giving him medical treatment, officers saw a fire at the residence next to the victim’s house while gunfire continued, prompting them to order the evacuation of other residents in the area, the police chief said.

“Surrounding residents reported hearing additional popping sounds, consistent with gunfire movement near the involved homes and ongoing activity associated with the burning structure. Due to those conditions, officers deployed armored rescue vehicles, drones, special tactical personnel, and regional mutual aid resources to safely evacuate residents, protect firefighters and secure the neighborhood,” Morgan said.

The gunshot victim, identified later as Mark, succumbed to his wounds at the scene.

Burned house was short-term rental

According to Morgan, officers were initially unable to enter the neighboring residence hit by the fire. After fire officials deemed the residential structure safe for them to enter, they later found a body in the rear bedroom.

According to Morgan, police learned the burned residence had been leased as a “short-term rental property” by Matthew.

Based on surveillance footage, financial records, lease information, forensic evidence and other leads, Matthew allegedly traveled from Indiana to California in a rental vehicle while bringing multiple guns and ammunition.

Police confirmed the suspect had rented the residence next to the victim’s home and stayed there for three days before the shooting.

“Detectives also learned the suspect told a friend in Indiana that he was planning to visit Colorado. Investigators have since confirmed that the suspect traveled to California and remained in the greater San Jose area for several weeks prior to the homicide,” Morgan said, noting financial receipts recovered by police confirmed Matthew’s location on April 14.

The suspect was confirmed to have rented the residence next to the victim’s home and stayed there for three days before the shooting. According to police, family members of the brothers were not aware that Matthew was staying next door to Mark.

According to Morgan, the suspect also had manufactured fire logs delivered to his rented home before the shooting.

Driveway confrontation

Investigators believe Mark was getting something from his vehicle when he was approached by Matthew before the shooting.

“After a brief verbal exchange, the suspect, who was concealing a firearm inside of a paper bag, opened fire,” said Morgan, who noted that investigators recovered 12 spent shell casings at the scene.

After shooting Mark, Matthew escaped through the side yard of the rental property, shot at the victim’s vehicle and home, and returned to his rented residence, which he burned by starting a fire from the rear bedroom.

Investigators recovered the suspect’s passport, ammunition, fire logs, and around $95,000 in cash and four pistols in the rear bedroom. A firearm was found near the body, and another was discovered in his waistband, Morgan said.

Earlier this week, authorities confirmed that the remains found in the rear bedroom were of Matthew.

According to Morgan, the brothers have been estranged for the past three years.

Police searched for evidence of motive at Matthew’s home in Indiana, but they did not find anything helpful in the case. Further investigation into the motive is ongoing.