Santa Claus-disguised killer

[seamusTX]

Covina, California (Los Angeles area), December 25 -- A man dressed in a Santa Claus suit entered a home where a family party was taking place on Christmas Eve and shot at least six people who were reportedly relatives of his estranged wife. He then allegedly set the house on fire. The fire took hours to put out and caused extensive damage .

The "suspect" reportedly later killed himself.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... gD959VO080" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/26/us/26 ... ml?_r=1&hp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A sad day for the families involved.

- Jim

[Fangs]

Wow, first ninjas, then pirates, now Santa too... what's the world coming to?

But on a serious note, that's horrible.

[bryang]

I saw that on the news and I don't have the words to describe how I felt...I still don't.

-geo

[seamusTX]

This unfortunate event is no longer "reported" or "alleged." Nine people were killed either by shooting or being trapped in a fire, and the perpetrator killed himself after receiving severe burns in the fire that he started.

He had been planning to flee to Canada.

The man had been fired a few months earlier and had no income. His wife divorced him and got a settlement of around $2,000 a month. She also got the dog. He had no criminal history.

Acrimonious divorce and losing a job are at the top of the short list of issues that cause people to "go postal."

http://preview.dailybreeze.com/ci_11311763" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://preview.dailybreeze.com/ci_11315051" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The perpetrator also rigged his vehicle to explode, which it did. No one was hurt by the explosion.

- Jim

[Skiprr]

And ever one to eagerly dance in a victim's blood, Paul Helmke has issued a press release on behalf of the Brady Campaign:

Christmas Eve Massacre Statement from Paul Helmke

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In response to a man dressed in a Santa suit opening fire at a home in Colvino, California, shooting an eight-year-old girl in the face, her 16-year-old sister in the back, then killing eight others and himself, Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign, issued the following statement:

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and community touched by this terrible tragedy. It is profoundly sad that a distraught man would take up arms to kill his family and others.

"In this season of hope, however, we should not despair and say this kind of violence is inevitable. We should not tolerate the steady drumbeat of gun deaths and injuries that tears our families and communities apart. We can and should do all that is within our power to find solutions to gun violence.

"In the New Year, we hope that our nation's leaders have the courage and conviction to take steps that will help protect our families and communities from gun violence."

As the nation's largest, non-partisan, grassroots organization leading the fight to prevent gun violence, the Brady Campaign, with its dedicated network of Million Mom March Chapters, works to enact and enforce sensible gun laws, regulations and public policies. The Brady Campaign is devoted to creating an America free from gun violence, where all Americans are safe at home, at school, at work, and in our communities.

Visit the Brady Campaign website at http://www.bradycampaign.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. For continuing insight and comment on the gun issue, read Paul Helmke's blog at http://www.bradycampaign.org/blog/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

How quick Clueless Paul is to try to turn every tragedy into a political platform for the Brady Campaign.

[Liberty]

Pretty sad stories in the news these days.When ex State Troopers and Santa Claus turn out to be killers.

[seamusTX]

Pretty sad stories in the news these days.

Some of it may be coincidence, but I suspect that the conflict between expectations of a wonderful, loving Christmas season and the reality of a life that is going down the drain pushes some people over the edge.

For those who literally want to go out with a bang, there may also be some evil urge to mar the holidays with such bad news.

- Jim

[seamusTX]

According to court records, on Jan. 8, 2001, the toddler, known as Matthew, fell into the couple's swimming pool while Pardo was supposed to be watching him. The child's mother, Elena Lucano, returned from grocery shopping to find Pardo in front of the TV and Matthew missing, her attorney said. Pardo pulled Matthew from the pool alive but gravely injured.

The child was left with permanent brain damage.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me ... 8314.story" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim

[seamusTX]

More details, not significant, IMO.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... gD95C11AO0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim

[Morgan]

Well it does show that we need to ban high octane fuel......

[Purplehood]

...and swimming pools.