Azusa Shooter Was on Cocaine Binge During Election Day Rampage

AZUSA, CA — A shooting in Azusa Tuesday left one person dead and two injured when a suspect with an assault rifle with rapid-fire capabilities opened fire, acting Azusa Police Department Chief Steve Hunt, said at a press conference.

The man who shot three people in Azusa, one fatally, before being fatally wounded in a shootout with police, was on a cocaine binge during the Election Day violence, said Deputy Kelvin Moody with the Sheriff's Information Bureau.

Officers from Azusa and Irwindale began to respond to reports of a shooting around 2 p.m. Tuesday in the 500 block of West Fourth Street, Moody said.

Detectives with the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau, who are assisting with the investigation, learned the suspect was on a cocaine binge when he stepped outside of his residence and began shooting at cars, Moody said.

The 45-year-old suspect had been on a cocaine binge when he stepped outside his home and began shooting at cars, according to Moody.

The gunman shot a woman driving a van, which later crashed, before he walked up to his 77-year-old neighbor and fatally wounded him, Moody said.

The fatally wounded victim was identified Wednesday as Francis Varney, the coroner's office reported. The suspect's name was withheld, pending notification of his relatives.

After shooting Varney, the suspect shot another woman down the street, Moody said.

The female victims, hospitalized in critical condition, are 65 and 59 years old, according to Moody. One woman suffered a gunshot wound to the face and the other to the body, said Sheriff's homicide Lt. John Corina, who said their medical conditions had improved Wednesday.

Responding officers were shot at by the suspect as they helped the wounded victims, said acting Azusa Police Chief Steve Hunt. The officers returned fire, killing the gunman, Moody said.

No officers were wounded in the exchange of gunfire, Hunt said.

A search of the suspect's residence revealed that he was in possession of a handgun, an assault rifle, a shotgun, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, Moody said.

Two people were evacuated from a home behind the house where the suspect was found, Corina said. They heard the shots and sheltered in place until police arrived but did not see the shooting.

Azusa police officials cited the critical incident on their Twitter feed at 3 p.m., asking all to avoid the area of Fourth Street and Orange Avenue. Police officials later said when officers responded to the scene they came under fire and the officers returned fire. All officers pinned down by gunfire are accounted for and safe.

"All residents in the area should shelter in place," they said.

The incident occurred at approximately 2:45 p.m. in the area of West Fourth Street and Orange Avenue, according to fire officials. KTLA reported that Slauson Middle School was placed on lockdown as of 2:15 p.m., and several roads were blocked off by emergency vehicles. SWAT vehicle and multiple police units were seen on the streets by overhead news helicopters.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Capt. Jeff Scroggin stated that there was at least one "heavily armed suspect" who had not been apprehended. According to Fox News, the L.A. County Registrar’s Office confirmed the polling places, located at Memorial Park and Dalton Elementary School, were also locked down.

The registrar of voters kept all voters advised of alternate polling places for voters in the area of Fourth and Orange, whose polling places were locked down during the incident.

The shooting did not appear to be connected to the election, the polling places or the schools, Corina said.

Alexander Nguyen, City News Service assisted with this report.

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