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| LA suburb's shock at Santa killer | LA suburb's shock at Santa killer |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Residents of a Los Angeles suburb have expressed their shock at Wednesday's killings of at least nine people by a gunman dressed as Santa Claus. | |
| Bruce Pardo burst into a Christmas Eve party at his ex-wife's parents' home in Covina, shooting and starting the fire. | |
| He then took his life with a shot to the head at his brother's home about 25 miles (40km) away, police said. | |
| Officials later said it appeared that he wanted to flee to Canada but was severely burned in the incident. | |
| Law enforcement authorities in California found $17,000 (£11,658) on Mr Pardo and a plane ticket to Canada. | |
| Mr Pardo is said to have suffered third-degree burns on both arms and his Santa suit actually melted onto his body before he fled the house in Covina. | |
| A Los Angeles County coroner's said earlier in the day that a ninth body had been found - all of them badly burned and none as yet positively identified. | |
| Local media have reported that Pardo's ex-wife and in-laws were among the dead but this has not been officially confirmed. | Local media have reported that Pardo's ex-wife and in-laws were among the dead but this has not been officially confirmed. |
| 'Money problems' | 'Money problems' |
| The quiet suburb is still in shock at the events. | The quiet suburb is still in shock at the events. |
| Covina police chief Kim Raney and Lt Pat Buchanan hold a news conference | Covina police chief Kim Raney and Lt Pat Buchanan hold a news conference |
| One of Pardo's co-workers at a Catholic church, Jan Detanna, told the Whittier Daily News that the unemployed aerospace engineer was "the nicest guy" who "always had a smile". | One of Pardo's co-workers at a Catholic church, Jan Detanna, told the Whittier Daily News that the unemployed aerospace engineer was "the nicest guy" who "always had a smile". |
| Details have emerged that Pardo, 45, had reached a divorce settlement just a few days before the attack. | Details have emerged that Pardo, 45, had reached a divorce settlement just a few days before the attack. |
| Court documents showed the two-year marriage ended with an award of $10,000 to Sylvia Pardo along with their dog and her wedding ring, while Bruce Pardo took the house. | Court documents showed the two-year marriage ended with an award of $10,000 to Sylvia Pardo along with their dog and her wedding ring, while Bruce Pardo took the house. |
| Bruce Pardo's lawyer, Stanley Silver, told the Associated Press news agency his client had fallen behind on marital support when he lost his job in July. | Bruce Pardo's lawyer, Stanley Silver, told the Associated Press news agency his client had fallen behind on marital support when he lost his job in July. |
| Pardo had knocked on the door of the home just before midnight, shooting in the face an eight-year-old girl who answered the door, police said. She is being treated for her wounds. | Pardo had knocked on the door of the home just before midnight, shooting in the face an eight-year-old girl who answered the door, police said. She is being treated for her wounds. |
| He then sprayed the 25 guests with bullets before setting fire to the house with a home-made incendiary device. | He then sprayed the 25 guests with bullets before setting fire to the house with a home-made incendiary device. |