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Husband Shoots Wife in Sylmar Home, Arrested

Sylmar.  Los Angeles detectives are investigating the apparent shooting death of a 45-year-old woman by her 59-year-old husband.  The husband was detained at the scene of the shooting, the family home in the 14000 block of Herron Street, which the couple has owned for at least 25 years. 

Just before 9 PM tonight, August 11, 2014, the couple’s son, who is in his twenties, called 9-1-1, after he heard several gun shots inside the home.  “He reported to 9-1-1 and the first officers to arrive that his father was shooting a gun, and his mother and sister were in the house,” said Lt. Paul Vernon, commanding officer of the Mission Detective Division.  “Given that information, the officers made immediate and rapid entry to the house.”

Searching officers found a woman, apparently shot multiple times, lying in the living room.  “Their first thought was the suspect might be lying in wait for the officers, or he had run out the back door,” Vernon explained.  “But instead, they found the man lying on a mattress in a bedroom.  It seemed he was waiting for police, and gave up without a struggle.”

A Colt .45 caliber pistol was lying on a table in the bedroom, with a loaded magazine and a handwritten note in Spanish next to it.

Detectives took the husband to the police station for questioning.  “We secured the crime scene and sought a search warrant before seizing the evidence inside the home.

The couple’s daughter, as it turned out, was not home at the time of the shooting, and no one else was injured.

“This shooting could have been much worse, as at least one bullet passed from one house into the neighbor’s house, through several walls, narrowly missing the resident,” Lt. Vernon added.  “Also, as is so common, alcohol played a part in this shooting.  The suspect admitted he had been drinking heavily this evening.”

Detectives will trace the ownership and origin of the gun, verify it as the murder weapon, and research any domestic violence history with the family, such as prior calls to the home.  This is the second domestic-violence murder in as many weeks for LAPD’s Mission Area.

The suspect’s name will be release once he is booked for murder.

Anyone with information is urged to call Det. Efren Gutierrez, Mission Homicide Unit, at

(818) 838-9948.  Anonymous tips can be called into Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Online tips may be placed at www.LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts.

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