Simone WilsonUpdated with a composite sketch of the suspect (right). The L.A. Sheriff's Department describes him as “male Hispanic, light complexion, 5'7″, 150 lbs., thin build, black hair, brown eyes, wearing dark clothing, a black hoodie sweatshirt and a bandaid under his eye.”
A family of five from Arcadia lived everyone's worst nightmare last night: They returned home from church to the 11000 block of Kristi Court around 8 p.m. to find an intruder inside their garage, waiting for them. Although sheriff's investigators say the father immediately handed over his mortgage payment at gunpoint — $1,800 in cash — that wasn't enough. The intruder allegedly instructed the mother and three kids (aged 3, 5 and 6) to wait in a downstairs bedroom, where they heard some conversation — then gunshots.
Their husband and father was dead. L.A. County Coroner's spokesman Craig Harvey tells the LA Weekly this evening that the victim has been identified as Jose Antonio Parra, a 35-year-old resident of Arcadia. ABC7 has the tragic accounts of Parra's family members and neighbors:
When [his wife and kids] came out, they found the father unresponsive on the ground, suffering from bullet wounds. The suspect, described as a Hispanic man in his 30s, was gone. The suspect fled from the scene around 8:15 p.m.A gunman was waiting in the Parra family's garage last night.; Credit: ABC7
… “Complete, utter shock,” said neighbor Dennis Ho. “This is a quiet neighborhood for something like this to happen. I'm totally, totally shocked. I'm at a loss for words.”
Detectives said they believe the family was targeted but they don't know why.
Updates to come as the L.A. County Sheriff's Department tracks down Parra's killer. And you can help homicide detectives on that front, by calling (323) 890-5500 with any information related to the crime.
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