Santa Shooter Details Surface

Details are slowly emerging about Bruce Jeffrey Pardo, the 45-year-old California man who opened fire at a Christmas party, killing nine and setting the house on fire—all while dressed as Santa Claus. Shortly before midnight on Christmas Eve Pardo arrived at his ex-wife’s parent’s house. When an 8-year-old girl opened the door he shot her face and proceeded to unload a semiautomatic handgun on the two dozen or so attendees. Pardo also had a pressurized fuel tank that he sprayed throughout the house before setting it on fire. Found dead at his brother’s early Christmas morning, Pardo was embroiled in relationship problems and, perhaps predictably, was described as quiet and easy going by his neighbors. By late last night, police couldn’t identify all the victims, though he wife and her parents are believed to be among them.