Dad shoots son, kills his mother (Anaheim, California)

Note strange headline: "Couple dead in apparent murder/suicide." As if nobody DID something to someone else. As if this couple had died in a car accident or of swine flu.

In reality, it appears that the UNNAMED DAD gunned down his 3-year-old son and got him three times--like he was some kind of rabid dog. He attempted to shoot the 5-year-old son, but missed. Then Daddy gunned down the mother and offed himself.

My gawd. This poor 5-year-old boy was left alone with all the carnage all night. Makes me sick.

And why didn't the police follow through at 8 PM, when a passerby reported gunshots?

http://www.ocregister.com/news/police-253304-street-murder.html?pic=1

Published: June 14, 2010
Updated: 10:30 p.m.
Couple dead in apparent murder/suicide; child shot
By GREG HARDESTY, ERIC CARPENTER and KIMBERLY EDDS
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERS

ANAHEIM – A 3-year-old boy was shot three times by his father before he ran and hid behind a trash can in his own back yard Sunday night. The violence was just beginning. His father also tried to shoot his 5-year-old brother, according to the police, but missed. He managed to escape unharmed – at least physically.

Their father shot their mother and then himself.

Shot in the chest, shoulder and abdomen, the boy sat behind the trash can and waited – his dead parents sprawled across lawn chairs in the back yard.

It wasn't until 12 hours later that police found the boy, fighting for his life at the home in the 500 block of North Fairhaven Street in Anaheim, police said. His older brother called 911 about 10:30 a.m. Monday, using one of their parent's cell phones to call for help, Anaheim police spokesman Sgt. Tim Schmidt said.

Police said the 5-year-old told the 911 dispatcher, "My dad shot my mom and himself in the back yard. I heard my brother screaming and hollering last night but I haven't seen him since."

The 5-year-old told police that his father had tried to kill him, Schmidt said. Officers followed a trail of blood to the wounded 3-year-old.

He is in critical condition at UCI Medical Center in Orange.

"The 3-year-old hid for his life for 12 hours," said Schmidt. The weapon was described only as a handgun.

He said the scene was so disturbing that some police officers have asked for counseling.

Police received a call around 8 p.m. Sunday from a motorist who heard shots fired in the area of Crescent Avenue and Euclid Street, but they were unable to find where the shots had come from, Schmidt said.

They left, not knowing there were two scared little boys alone with their dead parents.

The bloody aftermath was discovered by a concerned co-worker showed up at the family's home after the father failed to show up for work, police said.

The co-worker told the 5-year-old boy to call 911, Schmidt said. The boy picked up one of his parent's cell phones and dialed 911.

The boy is in the custody of county social services while his younger brother fights for his life.

Authorities are withholding the names of the dead couple until they can contact the family's next-of-kin.

Ignacio Garcia, 32, said he has seen the boys playing in the front yard while riding his bike to work.

"It's crazy to think I rode by this morning and that was going on inside," Garcia said. "I can't ever imagine being desperate enough to hurt your kids. I just hope the kids will be OK."