US: Police hunt gun-toting Santa in deadly shooting
26 Dec 2008 3:38 AM
LOS ANGELES, Dec 25 AFP - Three bodies have been found in the basement of a Californian house that caught fire after a gun-toting man burst into a holiday party dressed as Santa Claus and opened fire, police say.
The gunman was being sought by police after he entered a residence in Covina, 37km east of Los Angeles, just before midnight on Wednesday, police Lieutenant Pat Buchanan told AFP on Thursday.
"At approximately 11.30 last night a man, who we have since identified as Bruce Pardo, dressed in a Santa Claus costume, went to a home where a Christmas Eve party was being thrown," Buchanan said.
"He knocked on the door, went in and opened fire on about 30 guests."
Police received a series of emergency calls alerting them to the incident, and when they arrived on the scene, the house was engulfed in flames and guests were running out, he said. It was unclear how the blaze started.
Two girls, aged 16 and eight, were hospitalised with gunshot wounds and a 13-year-old girl was treated for injuries that were not life threatening, he said.
After the fire was extinguished, rescuers found three bodies in the basement, Buchanan said, adding that more bodies could still be inside.
The suspect, who was using a handgun, was still at large and may have been acting on a marital grudge.
"We don't know the exact connection," Buchanan said.
"But we know Mr Pardo was having some marital difficulties and this residence belong to a relative of his wife."
