Going through an acrimonious divorce, Bruce Pardo dressed up like Santa slaughtered at least six people on Christmas Eve. Pardo devised a plan for revenge against his ex-wife and dressed like Santa in order to slaughter his family.
On Christmas Eve, Pardo went to his former in-laws’ Christmas Eve party and shot down six people and then turned the gun on himself some hours later.
Three people are listed as missing after Pardo tricked his way past the 8-year old girl who answered the door. Dressed as Santa, he appeared with what was thought to be a present; however it was a handgun instead and a deadly liquid. Pardo began shooting at the 25 partygoers who were there. Pardo shot the 8 year old girl in the face.
His ex wife and her parents are listed as missing; authorities fear their remains will be found among the ashes of the home. Pardo set the home on fire with a self created device that sprayed flammable liquid. According to police Pardo did not have a criminal record, nor did he show any pattern of violence.
But, police do have a report of Pardo becoming angry after his divorce settlement was concluded.
"It was not an amicable divorce," police Lt. Pat Buchanan said.
Pardo continued shooting, hitting a 16-year old in the back; a 20-year old woman jumped from a second story window and broke her ankle trying to escape the shooting Santa. Both were hospitalized along with the 8-year old.
The decoy gift wrapped box Pardo had when the 8-year old answered the door was really a pressurized homemade device he made that sprayed a liquid which accelerated the burning down of the house, police say. After firemen put the blaze out on Christmas morning, officers discovered three badly burned bodies in what used to be the living room.
"They were met with a scene that was just indescribable," police Chief Kim Raney said.
Later, investigators would find three more bodies among the ashes. Identification of the three bodies has not been made yet. It is believed Pardo’s ex-wife and her parents are among those remains found.
Pardo then took off the Santa suit, and drove to his brothers’ home 25 miles away from the shooting. He let himself in his brother’s home after finding no one home. Police responded to a call to the home and discovered Pardo dead of a single bullet to the head.
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