Police: LA Sheriff's Deputy Killed by Firefighter Husband in Murder-Suicide

An off-duty sheriff’s deputy was shot and killed in her La Canada Flintridge home by her husband, an off-duty Los Angeles County firefighter who later shot himself to death in Pacoima, authorities said today.

The slain deputy was identified by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department as 32-year-old Cecilia Hoschet, who had been with the department for two years and worked at the Inmate Reception Center in downtown Los Angeles.

The dead man was identified as firefighter/paramedic James M. Taylor, said Capt. Keith Mora of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Taylor fled to a county fire facility in Pacoima after killing his wife, where he shot himself to death in a government vehicle, officials said.

Hoschet leaves behind a 6-year-old son, who is now in the care of relatives, according to the sheriff’s department.

“We lost a wonderful deputy last night,” L.A. County 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. 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, but Taylor later dropped the child off at a relative’s home, sheriff’s Lt. Dave Coleman said during a news conference. It’s unclear if Taylor was the boy’s father.

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,” said LACFD Chief Daryl L. Osby. “Our thoughts are with everyone who was impacted by this tragedy. 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.”

City News Service