Man in Santa suit kills 8, self

Bruce Pardo8217;s ex-wife and her parents were believed to be among the dead. Pardo had no criminal record and no history of violence, according to police, but he was angry following last week8217;s settlement of his divorce after a marriage that lasted barely a year.

Pardo chose to exact his revenge at the annual Christmas party his former in-laws held at their two-story home on a cul-de-sac in a quiet Covina neighborhood 40 kilometers east of Los Angeles.

The suspect, carrying at least two handguns and a homemade incendiary device, began shooting as soon as he entered the house, Lt Pat Buchanan of the Covina Police Department told reporters.

In past years, a neighbour dressed as Santa Claus and entertained guests. But the neighbour had moved away and there was no Santa until Pardo arrived around 11.30 pm.

The massacre began when an 8-year-old girl answered Pardo8217;s knock at the door. Pardo, carrying what appeared to be a large present, pulled out a handgun and shot her in the face, then began shooting indiscriminately as about 25 partygoers tried to flee.

Two people were wounded by gunfire, an 8-year-old girl who opened the door and was shot in the face and a 16-year-old girl who was shot in the back as guests fled the house. Some jumped from second-floor windows.

Witnesses among the people attending the annual Christmas party told police that Pardo stripped off his Santa costume after the shooting and fled in street clothes.