On Christmas Eve, Bruce Jeffrey Pardo, 45, dressed as Santa Claus, shot an 8-year-old girl in the face before opening fire on approximately 25 people gathered at a Christmas party in Covina, Los Angeles. Pardo was seeking his ex-wife, Sylvia, with whom he had recently finalized a contentious divorce that concluded on December 18th, ending their two-year marriage. In the divorce settlement, Sylvia received a financial payout, their dog, and her wedding ring, while Pardo retained their home. Pardo's attorney indicated that he had been struggling financially after losing his job in July and falling behind on support payments.
The attack resulted in nine confirmed deaths, including Pardo's ex-wife Sylvia, her parents James and Alicia Ortega, and other family members. As Pardo continued his shooting spree, guests attempted to escape by smashing windows, hiding behind furniture, and fleeing upstairs. Before leaving the scene, Pardo doused the house with accelerant and set it ablaze, with the home being consumed by flames within seconds. Nine charred bodies were later recovered by police, with positive identification requiring dental records.
Pardo was found dead hours later at one of his brother's houses from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, with five guns discovered near his body. His car, found nearby and containing ammunition, exploded on Christmas Day after being rigged with explosives. Investigators also found an airline ticket suggesting Pardo had planned to flee to Canada if he had not been injured. Despite no prior criminal record or history of violence, neighbors described him as a friendly and pleasant individual. The survivors included the 8-year-old girl who was shot in the face, a 16-year-old who sustained a gunshot wound to the back, and a 20-year-old woman who broke her ankle while escaping through a window.