A husband fatally shot his wife and then turned the gun on himself in front of seven children and grandchildren at a Panorama City apartment, detectives said on Saturday.
The incident began Friday just before 10 p.m. in the 8700 block of Tobias Avenue (map) when the husband and his 41-year-old wife started arguing after he had at least five beers to drink, a news release from the Los Angeles Police Department stated.
The unidentified man then called a friend, saying he has going to kill himself. As the friend was heading over to the apartment, the husband allegedly texted that he was also going to kill his wife, police said.
The friend arrived at the apartment, then heard yelling followed by gun shots, according to the release
“It appears the man shot the victim at least once, then tried to shoot himself,” LAPD Lt. Paul Vernon said in the release.
Seven children between the ages of 1 and 19 who lived in the apartment were there when the shooting occurred, including the couple’s 10-year-old son, police said. The victim’s pregnant 19-year-old daughter and her three small children were also inside the apartment, along with the woman’s 13 and 16-year-old sons.
The adult daughter’s 21-year-old boyfriend, who was there as well, had tried to intervene, according to the release.
“After the 40-something-year-old suspect had fired three rounds from a shotgun, the adult daughter’s 21-year-old boyfriend wrestled the shooter out of the apartment,” Vernon said.
The husband then turned the shotgun on himself once more and killed himself, police stated in the release. The weapon was recovered near his body.
The children were not injured.
Police have not yet released the identities of the victim and the husband.
“Tragic as this is, it could have been so much worse. It’s lucky no one else was killed or wounded in that crowded apartment, either on purpose or by accident, thanks in part to the boyfriend,” Vernon said.
“He may have saved the lives of the others,” Vernon added.
The Department of Children And Family Services and the mayor’s Crisis Response Team were meeting with the children to provide them guidance and support, the release stated.
An investigation into the incident was continuing, according to police.
