Police release tape of emergency call in 'Santa' shooting
- 00:02:17
- ITN
Police release tape of emergency call in 'Santa' shooting
Police have released a tape of the 911 call made when a gunman dressed as Santa Claus attacked a Christmas party, killing nine people. Bruce Jeffrey Pardo, 45, opened fire on around two dozen guests at the Christmas Eve party held by his former in-laws in Covina, California, before the house was set ablaze. Pardo's ex-wife Syvia, 43, and her parents are believed to be among the victims. The gunman later committed suicide and his body was found at his brother's house in nearby Sylmar, police said. Pardo, who had two handguns and a home-made incendiary device, shot an eight-year-old girl in the face when she opened the door to him and then shot at guests indiscriminately as they tried to flee. She survived the attack as did a 16-year-old girl who had tried to flee but was shot in the back. Pardo, who had no criminal record and was a regular usher at his Catholic church, had recently settled a contentious divorce with his ex-wife after a year of marriage. Police discovered around £5,000 and a plane ticket on Pardo's body along with his booby-trapped rental car about a block from his brother's home. A pipe bomb and about 300 rounds of handgun ammunition exploded and destroyed the vehicle as police tried to defuse the device. Bomb-making equipment was also found at Pardo's home in the quiet suburb of Montrose, 13 miles (21 km) north of downtown Los Angeles. Witnesses among the 25 people attending the annual Christmas party told police that Pardo stripped off his Santa costume after the shooting and fled in street clothes.
ITN | December 27, 2008
