"Santa" Starts Shooting at Party; Several Dead in Subsequent Fire

"Santa" Starts Shooting at Party; Several Dead in Subsequent Fire

COVINA, CA (AP) -- A man dressed as Santa Claus opened fire at a Christmas Eve party in a home that subsequently caught fire, leaving at least three people dead, police said. The suspect later killed himself, police said.

Police found the body of Bruce Jeffrey Pardo, 45, at the home of his brother early Thursday in the Sylmar area of Los Angeles. Police would not say how he died.

Police said he was the estranged husband of a person who may have been at the party in Covina, a Los Angeles suburb.

"He was going through some type of marital problems, and we believe that this residence is a relative's residence," Lt. Pat Buchanan said.

The gunman arrived at the party late Wednesday and immediately opened fire with a handgun, Buchanan said. Witnesses told police that the man took off the Santa suit and left the scene of the burning house in street clothes.

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Guns don't kill people, Santa does.