Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Authorities Still Investigating Deaths in Azusa Fire

The bodies of a man and two women were found inside the home Thursday afternoon.

Update:

A man and two women found dead at the scene of a house fire in Azusa had been shot, and police today said there were "no outstanding suspects'' being sought in connection with what is being characterized as a "crime.''

Los Angeles County firefighters were called to the burning home at 525 N. Dalton Ave. around 2:45 p.m. Thursday, and authorities found the bodies, along with "numerous firearms, including a variety of rifles and handguns,'' said Azusa police Lt. Mike Bertelsen.

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"There were also thousands of rounds of ammunition and several incendiary devices located,'' Bertelsen said.

The dead people were in their 50s, the coroner's office reported. "They were found to have gunshot wounds to their upper body,'' Bertelsen said.

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Bertelsen said the coroner's office will have to determine the identities of the victims and the cause of death.

"No other information related to the deceased is available at this time,'' Bertelsen said. "There are no outstanding suspects in this crime, and it is actively being investigated.''

Police stopped short of calling it a murder-suicide but said there were "no outstanding suspects.''

Two dogs and two cats were found dead at the fire scene, Bertelsen said.

Earlier, Bertelsen described what happened when the fire was discovered.

"Witnesses were reporting that a large plume of smoke was coming from the garage area of the property,'' Bertelsen said. "On arrival, officers saw the garage and house were fully engulfed by fire. There was also the sound of ammunition 'burning off' as the property burned.''

Firefighters found the bodies inside the house after extinguishing the blaze, Bertelsen said.

Sheriff's arson investigators were called to assist Azusa police detectives in the investigation. Representatives of the Azusa Code Enforcement Division, Azusa Light and Water Division and the Gas Company also were summoned.

"A large amount of ammunition was located inside the house,'' along with 12 rifles, 10 handguns and several "suspicious incendiary devices,'' said Azusa police Sgt. Xavier Torres. Investigators were trying to determine if the arsenal was legally possessed and how the fire started.

Anyone with information on the case was urged to call police.

Previous: When firefighters put out a blaze in an Azusa home Thursday afternoon, they discovered three bodies, weapons and a large stash of ammunition.

The discovery was made in a home in the 500 block of N. Dalton Avenue, about three miles from the Glendora border.

Firefighters responded to a call of a house fire at 2:43 p.m. and after the fire was knocked down at around 4 p.m., they discovered the bodies of a man and two women inside the house, according to a Los Angeles County Fire report.

Azusa Police told the San Gabriel Valley Tribune that “12 rifles, 10 handguns, ammunition, gunpowder and the suspicious devices” were also found in the residence. When they arrived at the home, they found the house in flames and heard bullets exploding in the garage.  Neighbors nearby were evacuated.

The suspicious devices and the gunpowder were confiscated and safely destroyed, Azusa Police said.


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