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'Santa' gunman in fatal LA attack Toll rises in 'Santa' LA shooting
(about 5 hours later)
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. At least eight 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.
Three other people are still missing in the suburb of Covina, in California. Officers fear there may be other people missing in the house in Covina, 25 miles (40km) east of Los Angeles.
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 said he had later killed himself at his brother's house, some 25 miles (40km) away.
He died from a single gunshot wound to the head, local police officer Martin Guerrero told the AP news agency. Mr Pardo had recently been divorced and is believed to have lost his job.
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." Pat Buchanan, a Los Angeles police officer, told the Associated Press news agency: "He was going through some type of marital problems."
Police said Mr Pardo was the estranged husband of a woman who may have been at the party. Police said Mr Pardo's former wife may have been at the party.
Burnt outBurnt out
The gunman opened fire with a hand gun on some 25 guests after arriving on Wednesday night, police said. The gunman opened fire on some 25 guests with a hand gun 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
They said he then used a homemade incendiary device to set the house on fire.They said he then used a homemade incendiary device to set the house on fire.
Eyewitnesses said he removed the Santa suit and left in casual clothing.Eyewitnesses 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 was an eight-year-old girl.Among those injured was an eight-year-old girl.
LA County coroner's official Ed Winter said the bodies found in the ashes were "extremely charred and burned".LA County coroner's official Ed Winter said the bodies found in the ashes were "extremely charred and burned".
Covina is about 25 miles (40km) east of Los Angeles. Police said Mr Pardo's body had been found several hours after the shooting, at his brother's house in Sylma. He died from a single gunshot wound to the head.