Police: Wednesday's killings in Gardena were murder-suicide
A man apparently shot his wife to death at the door of their Gardena apartment, stepped away from her and killed himself, police said today.
Police detectives said it appeared the husband, Won Chin, 59, committed the Wednesday night act in the 15800 block of South Normandie Avenue because of his failing marriage.
"She moved out fairly recently," Gardena police Sgt. Russ Temple said. "She came over to the house that night and it looks like he met her at the door and shot her with one single gunshot wound to the head."
Police officers responding to the 8:35 p.m. report of gunshots found the wife lying in front of the entrance to their upstairs apartment, Gardena police Lt. Uikilifi Niko said.
The man, identified later as Chin, was found just inside the apartment door. Temple said it appeared that Chin backed up after he shot his wife, put the gun to his own head and pulled the trigger.
Chin was unresponsive when paramedics tried to treat him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
His wife died in surgery at County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
On Friday, police said they had not learned much about the couple's relationship and why Chin would kill her.
"It looks like they are recently estranged, going through a divorce," Temple said.
The wife's name was not released, pending notification of her relatives.
Police detectives said it appeared the husband, Won Chin, 59, committed the Wednesday night act in the 15800 block of South Normandie Avenue because of his failing marriage.
"She moved out fairly recently," Gardena police Sgt. Russ Temple said. "She came over to the house that night and it looks like he met her at the door and shot her with one single gunshot wound to the head."
Police officers responding to the 8:35 p.m. report of gunshots found the wife lying in front of the entrance to their upstairs apartment, Gardena police Lt. Uikilifi Niko said.
The man, identified later as Chin, was found just inside the apartment door. Temple said it appeared that Chin backed up after he shot his wife, put the gun to his own head and pulled the trigger.
Chin was unresponsive when paramedics tried to treat him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
His wife died in surgery at County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
On Friday, police said they had not learned much about the couple's relationship and why Chin would kill her.
"It looks like they are recently estranged, going through a divorce," Temple said.
The wife's name was not released, pending notification of her relatives.
About the Blogger
Larry Altman has covered crime in the South Bay since 1990. He's seen it all - the missing model who turned up dead in the desert, the wives found dead in trunks, the high-school coaches who get a little too close to their players. He drives his young colleagues nuts with his "I remember when" stories. He welcomes your tips and observations about the present, and you can mix in a little Lakers basketball talk if you like.
E-mail Larry at larry.altman@dailybreeze.com.
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