HAWAIIAN GARDENS, Calif. -- A man with an assault rifle went on a shooting rampage in Hawaiian Gardens, killing his ex-girlfriend, her father and teenage brother before a sheriff's deputy wounded him, bringing an end to the violence, sheriff's officials said.The shooting was reported around 4 a.m. Thursday at a home in the 21000 block of Devlin Ave.
A sheriff's deputy on routine patrol heard gunshots from an automatic rifle and went to investigate, according to Los Angeles County Undersheriff Larry Waldie.
The deputy called for backup and confronted the gunman as he exited the home.
"As we arrived, we heard the shots on the street, so our deputy did a fantastic job, knew it was an automatic weapon -- it was an AK-47 -- pulled his AR-15, encountered the suspect on the street, Waldie said.
The suspected gunman has been identified as 26-year-old Joseph Mercado.
Waldie said ten family members were inside the house when the suspect stormed in and started shooting.
Mercado shot his ex-girlfriend's mother and father downstairs and then went upstairs where he shot and killed his former lover and her 14-year-old brother, Waldie said.
The 2 wounded victims were taken to a hospital for treatment.
Family members said Alfredo Tarin Sr., 53, died at a Long Beach Memorial Hospital after undergoing two surgeries.
The other victims' names have not been released, but a relative identified them as 23-year-old Serena Tarin and her 21-year-old brother Alfredo Jr.
Their mother Lucianna is in critical condition at Long Beach Memorial.
The scene was so chaotic that family members were jumping out of windows and climbing onto the roof to escape, Waldie said.
If the deputy hadn't shown up, the gunman "might have killed all ten people," Waldie told KTLA.
The suspect also poured gasoline around the house in an apparent attempt to burn the house down, he said.
Investigators say Mercado was upset over the demise of his relationship, and was angry at the woman's family. (No sh*t he was angry)
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