(CNS) Services are pending for the off-duty sheriff’s deputy shot and killed by her off-duty firefighter husband in their La Canada Flintridge home. The husband later killed himself in Pacoima with a self-inflicted gunshot.
Sheriff’s homicide detectives continue their investigation, and had released no new information as of Wednesday, Sept. 9 about the murder-suicide.
The slain deputy was identified by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department as 32-year-old Cecilia Hoschet, a two-year department veteran who worked at the Inmate Reception Center in downtown Los Angeles.
The dead man was identified as firefighter/paramedic James M. Taylor, Capt. Keith Mora of the Los Angeles County Fire Department said.
On Sunday. Sept. 6, Taylor killed his wife, then drove to a county fire facility in Pacoima, where he shot himself to death in a government vehicle, according to investigators.
Before he took his own life, Taylor left their 6-year-old son at the home of a relative, according to the sheriff’s department.
“We lost a wonderful deputy,” Sheriff Jim McDonnell said. Hoschet “impressed everyone she met” at the department, McDonnell said in praising the deputy’s “positive and helpful approach to her work.”
“She enjoyed being a deputy and really liked people,” he said.
Taylor had been with the department for six years and was assigned to the Pacoima warehouse facility, Mora said.
The discovery of the Hoschet’s body was reported at 9:50 p.m. on Sunday in the 5000 block of Crown Avenue, said Deputy Mike Barraza of the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.
“Deputies responded to a ‘woman screaming’ call. Deputies made entry into the residence and found a 32-year-old female victim of a gunshot wound,” Barraza said.
The door was open when the deputies arrived, officials said.
Hoschet was pronounced dead at the scene.
The 6-year-old boy was believed to have been home at the time of the shooting, sheriff’s Lt. Dave Coleman said.
Sheriff’s homicide detectives were called to the Pacoima facility by Los Angeles police, who had responded to reports of a dead body at the location, he said.
A weapon was recovered at the scene in Pacoima, Barraza said.
“Today is a sad day for all public safety personnel in Los Angeles County. On behalf of the entire fire department, we extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends facing the pain of loss,” LACFD Chief Daryl L. Osby said.
“Our thoughts are with everyone who was impacted by this tragedy,” Osby said. ”As we continue to learn more, we thank all of the entities involved for their assistance and will continue to support our brothers and sisters in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.”