Azusa Gunman Was on Cocaine Binge During Shooting: Police

AZUSA (CNS) - Authorities Thursday identified the man who shot three people in Azusa on Election Day, one fatally, before he was shot to death by police.

Officers from Azusa and Irwindale responded to reports of a shooting around 2 p.m. Tuesday in the 500 block of West Fourth Street, said Deputy Kelvin Moody of the Sheriff's Information Bureau.

The gunman was identified as Carlos Mendez, 45, of Azusa, the sheriff's department reported. Sheriff's homicide detectives assisted Azusa police in the investigation.

According to Moody, Mendez was on a cocaine binge when he stepped outside his home and began shooting at cars. Mendez 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 Francis Varney, the coroner's office reported.

After shooting Varney, Mendez shot a 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 Lt. John Corina.

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

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

A search of Mendez's residence turned up 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 Mendez was found, Corina said. They heard the shots and sheltered in place until police arrived but did not see the shooting.

The shooting scene was near Slauson Middle School and Mountain View Elementary School, both of which were placed on lockdown. Also locked down were two polling stations -- one at Dalton Elementary School and the other in Memorial Park. By late Tuesday afternoon, the Dalton voting station had been reopened but Memorial Park remained closed.

The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's Office advised voters to visit other polling places to cast a provisional ballot before polling places closed at 8 p.m.

-- City News Service. Screenshot of the Azusa Police Department briefing Tuesday night.