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'Santa' gunman in fatal LA attack 'Santa' gunman in fatal LA attack
(about 5 hours later)
A man dressed as Santa Claus has opened fire at a Christmas party near the US city of Los Angeles, killing at least three people and starting a fire. At least six people have died after a man dressed as Santa Claus opened fire at a Christmas party near Los Angeles and set the house alight, police say.
The local coroner's office said there could be "several" more bodies in the ashes of the blaze. Three other people are still missing in the suburb of Covina, in California.
The shooting took place at a party on Christmas Eve in the suburb of Covina. Police named Bruce Jeffrey Pardo, 45, as a suspect and later said his body had been identified at his brother's house, some 25 miles (40km) away.
Police named Bruce Jeffrey Pardo, 45, as a suspect and later said his body had been identified at his brother's house in the Sylmar area. He died from a single gunshot wound to the head, local police officer Martin Guerrero told the AP news agency.
Police believe Mr Pardo may have killed himself but would not reveal the circumstances of his death. Pat Buchanan, another city policeman, said: "He was going through some type of marital problems, and we believe that this residence [in Covina] is a relative's residence."
Police said Mr Pardo was the estranged husband of a woman who may have been at the party.
Burnt outBurnt out
Mr Pardo was the estranged husband of a woman who may have been at the party, officers said. The gunman opened fire with a hand gun on some 25 guests after arriving on Wednesday night, police said.
The body of suspect Bruce Jeffrey Pardo has been foundThe body of suspect Bruce Jeffrey Pardo has been found
Lt Pat Buchanan told Associated Press: "He was going through some type of marital problems, and we believe that this residence is a relative's residence." They said he then used a homemade incendiary device to set the house on fire.
Covina is about 25 miles (40km) east of Los Angeles. Eyewitnesses said he removed the Santa suit and left in casual clothing.
The gunman opened fire with a hand gun on about 30 guests after arriving on Wednesday night, police said. He removed the Santa suit and left in casual clothing. One neighbour, Jan Gregory, told AP she saw a teenage boy running from the house screaming: "They shot my family."
One neighbour, Jan Gregory, told AP she saw a teenage boy running from the house screaming, "They shot my family."
The subsequent fire gutted the two-storey home.The subsequent fire gutted the two-storey home.
Among those injured were two girls, aged eight and 13. Among those injured was an eight-year-old girl.
LA County coroner's official Ed Winter said investigators had found more bodies in the ashes but would not say how many. LA County coroner's official Ed Winter said the bodies found in the ashes were "extremely charred and burned".
"We have multiple bodies inside," he said. "They're extremely charred and burned." Covina is about 25 miles (40km) east of Los Angeles.