Editor’s note: A recent review by a law enforcement research group shows that police agencies are linking increases in crime to the faltering economy. In October 2008, a Los Angeles man killed his family over financial woes. For more related articles, visit the Police1 slideshow: Top Trends in 2008: Economic Impact on LE
By Thomas Watkins
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — A father apparently distraught over job problems shot and killed his wife and five young children and then committed suicide at their home Tuesday, police said. The victims included two sets of twins.
The bodies were found when police responded to a report of a shooting in progress in the Wilmington area shortly before 8:30 a.m., Officer Sam Park said. The bodies were found throughout the family’s two-story home.
The victims were not immediately identified.
Deputy Chief Kenneth Garner said the man killed his wife, an 8-year-old girl, twin 5-year-old daughters and twin 2-year-old sons. He then killed himself.
A revolver was found at the home.
“He was despondent, clearly, over his job situation,” Garner said.
Either before or after killing his family, the man sent a two-page typewritten letter to KABC-TV, Garner said. The Burbank-based television station called police in that suburb, Garner said.
The TV station did not publicly release the note, but Garner described its content.
“Obviously he wanted somebody to find the bodies,” Garner said.
“In the note, he clearly said he was going to kill himself, his wife and his kids,” Garner said.
Garner said he didn’t exactly know the man’s job situation, but “it wasn’t going well at work.”
“Today our worst fear was realized,” Garner said. “It’s just not a solution. There’s just so many ways you find alternatives to doing something so horrific and drastic as this.”
Wilmington, about 18 miles south of downtown, is a 10-square-mile community adjacent to the Port of Los Angeles.