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Christmas Eve Tragedy Strikes L.A. Community

By Steven Rodriguez

It’s a horrific tragedy. That it occurred on Christmas Eve in the midst of a joyous family celebration makes it even more tragic. Stung by a bitter divorce, on Christmas Eve Bruce Pardo dressed in a Santa suit and drove to his former in-laws’ home on a quiet cul-de-sac in Covina, 22 miles east of Los Angeles. More than 25 members of the extended Ortega family, many of them young children, were gathered for their traditional Christmas Eve celebration. Adults were sharing the latest family news. Presents were being passed out to excited children. The table was spread with tasty holiday treats. Relatives had been arriving all night. So when the doorbell rang at 11:30 p.m., one of the children ran to open the door. Pardo shot her in the face and proceeded to systematically shoot his way through the house, killing at least 8 people, including his ex-wife and her parents...continue to full post

Full post as published by LA Criminal Defense Blog on December 26, 2008 (boomark / email).