The deaths of three people inside a Lakewood home were the result of a murder-suicide, sheriff’s officials confirmed Friday, with the father believed to have killed his wife and daughter before firing shots at another daughter then killing himself.
Deputies responded at around 7:55 a.m. Thursday to the 5800 block of Lorelei Avenue, near South Street, to reports of an assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.
When deputies arrived, they were met outside the home by a “distraught” woman who was taken into custody for questioning, while inside they found three dead people — a man, woman and a 17-year-old girl, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Detective Daniel Vizcarra told reporters at the scene.
Officials from the sheriff’s Lakewood Station on Friday identified the dead man as Lionel Alfaro, who was found on the floor in the den of the home from a gunshot wound to the upper body. The other victims were Alfaro’s 48-year-old wife and 17-year-old daughter, who were found in separate bedrooms, according to the sheriff’s department. Neither of them were identified.
Sheriff’s officials said Alfaro’s older daughter, age 19, was asleep in the home when she was awoken by gunfire. Alfaro then fired multiple shots at his older daughter, but missed. He then “shot himself while standing near his 19-year-old daughter,” according to the sheriff’s department.
Two weapons were recovered at the scene.
There was no word on what may have prompted the shooting.
Anyone with additional information regarding the fatal shooting was urged to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers or visit lacrimestoppers.org.