Murder-suicide in Los Angeles area leaves 3 dead

A man fatally shot his wife and teenage daughter before killing himself inside a home in Lakewood, California, in what investigators have determined was a murder-suicide, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputies from the Lakewood Station responded at about 8 a.m. on Thursday to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon in the 5800 block of Lorelei Avenue, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said. The caller reported that her father had shot at her and was lying unconscious near her on the floor.

Deputies contacted a 19-year-old woman who exited the residence unharmed and told investigators that her father had fired at her. She was later transported to the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station.

Inside the home, deputies found an adult man suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper torso in the den. He was later identified as 52-year-old Hector Lionel Alfaro of Lakewood.

Deputies also located a 48-year-old woman in a bedroom with gunshot wounds to her torso, identified as Alfaro’s wife. In a second bedroom, deputies found a 17-year-old girl with a gunshot wound to her upper torso, identified as Alfaro’s youngest daughter.

Alfaro, his wife and his daughter were pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators determined that the 19-year-old daughter heard gunshots while she was asleep and later saw Alfaro armed with a handgun near her. Authorities said Alfaro fired several shots at her but did not strike her, then shot himself while standing near her.

Two firearms were recovered at the scene, deputies said. The investigation remains ongoing, and no additional information was immediately released.