A festive Christmas Eve party at a home in Covina, California, was transformed into a scene of unimaginable horror when a 45-year-old man disguised in a Santa Claus costume arrived and opened fire, killing nine people before later taking his own life.
Deception and Death at a Family Gathering
According to police, the suspect, identified as Bruce Jeffrey Pardo, an aerospace employee and practicing Roman Catholic, arrived at the residence on a quiet cul-de-sac carrying what appeared to be a large Christmas gift box. Authorities believe he was targeting his ex-wife, Sylvia, with whom he had just finalized a contentious divorce on December 18.
The tragedy began when an 8-year-old girl answered the door. Pardo shot her before entering the home where approximately 25 people, including several children, were celebrating. He then opened fire indiscriminately inside. A neighbor, Jan Gregory, recalled seeing a teenage boy fleeing the scene, screaming that his family had been shot.
A Scene of Fire and Tragedy
After the shooting, the house was engulfed in flames. Firefighters later discovered nine severely burned bodies inside. The victims were so badly injured that positive identification was only possible through dental records, police confirmed.
Hours after the attack, Pardo was found dead at his brother’s home. Officers recovered five firearms near his body. Detectives stated that Pardo had no prior criminal record and believe he died by suicide, possibly after sustaining burns during the arson at the crime scene.
A Community in Mourning
The incident has devastated the quiet suburban community and left investigators piecing together the motives and actions of a man who, by all outward appearances, was an unremarkable professional with no history of violence. The case underscores the terrifying potential for domestic disputes to escalate into mass tragedy, casting a permanent shadow over what should have been a joyous holiday gathering.
Authorities continue to investigate the full sequence of events leading up to the Christmas Eve massacre, a stark reminder of violence that shattered the peace of the season.
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