More than 1,000 people attended the San Dimas funeral services for nine members of an extended Covina family murdered during a Christmas Eve rampage. On the night of December 24, Bruce Pardo, wearing a Santa Claus suit, arrived at the home of his divorced wife's parents and began a reign of violence involving gun fire and arson, culminating in Pardo's suicide. Among the dead were his wife, his sister and the sister's son.
The L.A. Times reported that following the somber trumpet playing of “Amazing Grace,” the trumpeter ended the Catholic Mass by breaking into the horse-race rallying call familiar to Ortega family members, who, it was said, were track fans.
Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.