An 81-year-old woman was killed and burned in her home. L.A. is offering $50,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
LOS ANGELES – An 81-year-old woman was killed and burned in her home in the Los Angeles area after allegedly setting her home on fire. The woman was found dead in a garage and her two sons were also found dead inside, and their bodies were later found several miles away. L.A. is offering $50,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
The family left behind a daughter who had returned from a holiday. The death has been ruled a homicide and an official was scheduled to make an announcement at the site of the crime at 4 p.m. PT, NBC Los Angeles reports.
“There was no question in my mind (the arson) was arson,” said Assistant Chief Michel Moore, Los Angeles Police Department.
Police were originally called to the area in the 2100 block of West Pico Boulevard, which is in the Crenshaw area, just before 5 p.m. PT, and found the woman’s garage on fire. There were reports of gunfire involved in the incident and an officer on scene noticed a child trying to open a window and saw a bullet hole in the ground.
Neighbors said the woman’s son was a good person and had worked at a local supermarket, but that they felt sorry for him.
“I hope she and her family got the help they needed and I hope they get through it with a great rest,” said a neighbor.
The Los Angeles Police Department has launched a major investigation, including searching for possible suspects, and the department is offering a $50,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of the suspect.
The woman is believed to have been on her way to a family reunion, so police have increased patrols in and around the area.
The Los Angeles Times reports that detectives have ruled out a robbery motive as the cause of the fire, and noted it appeared that the woman had set her home on fire herself.
NBC Los Angeles does not have an update on the woman’s sons’ deaths.