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Orange County SWAT deputies find two dead in San Clemente boutique

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A deadly shooting inside a San Clemente clothing and gift boutique on Saturday forced dozens of frightened passersby to seek safety inside adjacent shops as SWAT team members secured the crime scene.

A man and a woman were found dead inside the Bliss Clothing Boutique in the 100 block of Avenida Del Mar, a spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department said.

Lt. Jeff Hallock said investigators believe the incident was a murder-suicide and that the man was responsible. Deputies found a handgun at the scene that they believe was used in the killings, he said.

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The names of the dead were not immediately released.

Authorities say no one is being sought in the shooting.

Among the witnesses was Loren Boyett, who said he was arranging window displays in his flower shop when “there was suddenly turmoil outside, and I saw a woman screaming and crying as she ran out of the boutique across the street.”

“An officer with a megaphone was ordering a suspect to ‘Come out with your hands up – and don’t bring anyone out with you,’” he recalled. “Other deputies were urging people to take shelter inside nearby stores including mine.”

Moments later, “I had at least 20 people pressing their faces against the display window trying to get a better view of the action,” Boyett said. “They were texting, videotaping and tweeting as SWAT team members with guns drawn filed into the boutique.”

By 4 p.m., the crowd was gone and sections of Avenida Del Mar and North Ola Vista were closed as the homicide investigation continued.

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