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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
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'Santa' Shooter Had Bomb, Plane Ticket, Cash: Police

Death toll at 9 after another body is found in ashes of Calif. home

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(Newser) – The discovery of another body in the charred wreckage of a California home brings the death toll in the Christmas Eve shooting rampage to nine, ABC News reports. Police say Bruce Jeffrey Pardo, 45, suspected of shooting his former in-laws while disguised as Santa, had $10,000 in cash and a plane ticket out of the country on him when he committed suicide at his brother’s house yesterday.

Pardo had also rigged his rental car with booby traps, including a pipe bomb that had to be defused by the bomb squad. Though Pardo was reportedly having trouble coping after a bitter divorce from his ex-wife, a probable victim, he had no history of violence and was even scheduled to serve as an usher for midnight Christmas Mass at a local church.

Bruce Jeffrey Pardo is seen in an undated photo provided by the Covina (Calif.) Police Department.
Bruce Jeffrey Pardo is seen in an undated photo provided by the Covina (Calif.) Police Department.   (Covina Police Department)
A photo from today shows the remains of the home in Covina, Calif., that was set on fire during a Christmas Eve murder rampage.
A photo from today shows the remains of the home in Covina, Calif., that was set on fire during a Christmas Eve murder rampage.   (AP Photo)
Los Angeles County firefighters remove items from the burned home Friday, Dec. 26, 2008, in Covina, Calif., that was set on fire during a Christmas Eve murder rampage. Bruce Pardo, dressed as Santa, shot indiscriminately at partygoers and destroyed his former in-laws' house with a homemade blowtorch, ultimately leaving nine...
Los Angeles County firefighters remove items from the burned home Friday, Dec. 26, 2008, in Covina, Calif., that was set on fire during a Christmas Eve murder rampage. Bruce Pardo, dressed as Santa, shot...   (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
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This is shocking. He was the nicest guy you could imagine. Always a pleasure to talk to, always a big smile.
- Jan Detanna, chief usher at Holy Redeemer Church, CA

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Shannonals
Dec 27, 08 2:41 PM CST
Ever notice how everyone who snaps and goes on a killer spree always has co-workers and others saying he/she is the nicest person they knew? Reply
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