At a Glance
- Hector Lionel Alfaro shot and killed his wife and daughter inside their Lorelie Avenue home Thursday at about 8 a.m.
- The double-murder-suicide was confirmed by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
- Neighbors and relatives have created a growing memorial of candles and flowers outside the house.
- Why it matters: The incident has shaken the tight-knit Lakewood community and left relatives struggling to understand how a father could turn on his own family.
A father who was supposed to protect his family instead became their killer, shooting his wife and daughter before turning the gun on himself in a quiet Lakewood neighborhood, officials and grieving relatives told News Of Losangeles.
Sheriff Confirms Murder-Suicide
Deputies discovered the three bodies after responding to a shooting call at the Lorelie Avenue residence near South Street shortly after 8 a.m. Thursday. Investigators quickly determined that Hector Lionel Alfaro, the husband and father in the home, shot both victims and then took his own life, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.
The names of the wife and daughter have not been released.
Relative Describes Outpouring of Support
Jorge Fuentes, Alfaro’s brother-in-law, said the extended family has been overwhelmed by the response from neighbors and loved ones.
“All the other family members that showed up, they were hosting us, providing their home for whatever needs we had,” Fuentes said. “It’s been a lot of reaching out by friends and family to support us through this difficult time.”
Fuentes asked the public to respect the family’s privacy as they try to process the tragedy.
Memorial Grows at Scene
By Friday afternoon, mourners had placed:
- Candles
- Bouquets of flowers
- A hand-written sign
The items now line the front of the single-story home where the shooting occurred.
Family Struggles to Comprehend
Fuentes said the family is grappling with disbelief and anger.
“It’s hard to process,” he said. “It’s pain, anger, hard to understand how a person that’s supposed to be a protector and a father to those girls would have done something so hideous.”
The incident marks the second multiple-victim homicide in Los Angeles County this week, adding to concerns about domestic violence cases turning fatal.
Community Reacts
Residents on Lorelie Avenue told Ethan R. Coleman they heard sirens Thursday morning but did not realize the severity of the situation until crime-scene tape went up. Several neighbors said the family had lived on the block for years and largely kept to themselves.
The Sheriff’s Department has not released any possible motive for the killings. Detectives are continuing to interview relatives and review any prior calls to the home.
Key Takeaways
- Deputies responded at 8 a.m. Thursday to the 11600 block of Lorelie Avenue.
- Hector Lionel Alfaro killed his wife and daughter before committing suicide.
- Relatives say neighbors and loved ones are offering food, shelter and emotional support.
- A roadside memorial now stands outside the family’s Lakewood home.
