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'Santa Shooter' Had Coke in His System

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 3, 2009 3:54 PM CDT
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(Newser) – The California man who murdered his ex-wife and eight members of her family on Christmas Eve while dressed as Santa Claus had cocaine in his system, the Los Angeles Times reports. The coroner’s office said the cocaine was present in trace amounts and was only a contributing factor to Bruce Jeffrey Pardo’s rampage. After committing the murders and setting the house where they took place ablaze, Pardo took his own life.

Los Angeles County firefighters remove items from the home that was set on fire during a Christmas Eve murder rampage.
Los Angeles County firefighters remove items from the home that was set on fire during a Christmas Eve murder rampage.   (AP Photo)
Bruce Pardo.
Bruce Pardo.   (AP Photo)
Sylvia Pardo, friend Roxanne Jauregui, and Bruce Pardo.
Sylvia Pardo, friend Roxanne Jauregui, and Bruce Pardo.   (AP Photo)
Los Angeles coroner officials remove the body of Bruce Pardo from his home.
Los Angeles coroner officials remove the body of Bruce Pardo from his home.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
riffran
Apr 4, 2009 7:26 AM CDT
This guy was a bad seed regardless of what weopon he used, and a coke head to boot, it seems, it could have just as well been a machete or water pipe, plus narcotic abuse is proven to alter the thinking of it's abusers
Mad
Apr 4, 2009 2:36 AM CDT
Too bad no family memebers came to the party packing heat, huh NRA asses? Why, they should've armed the kids, too. That would have stopped this tragedy to be sure, right? Right?
Robert_Dada
Apr 3, 2009 11:27 AM CDT
But it's not a stretch to suggest that narcotics lessened his inhibitions on the acts he was about to perform.

 
California • suicide • cocaine • murder • Los Angeles • Christmas • Santa Claus • Bruce Jeffrey Pardo

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