Fountain Valley Man Slain; Suspect Held

A 55-year-old Fountain Valley man was fatally shot in the head with a .22-caliber revolver Tuesday night and his housemate was arrested on suspicion of murder, authorities said.

Hans Willi Tonert was pronounced dead of a single gunshot wound in the front yard of his home in the 9800 block of Petunia Avenue after police responded to a 7 p.m. call from a neighbor who reported hearing a gunshot, Police Sgt. Larry Griswold said.

The housemate, Curtis Timothy DeWitt, 35, was found standing next to Tonert’s body and police recovered a .22-caliber revolver believed to be the murder weapon, Griswold said. Police know of no motive, he said, and neighbors reported hearing no argument before the gunshot.

DeWitt was being questioned late Tuesday night at the Fountain Valley Police Department and was scheduled to be booked later at the Orange County Jail, Griswold said.