South Bay Elderly Man Shoots Niece Before Turning Gun on Self: M.E.

TORRANCE, CA — A 78-year-old man shot his 48-year-old niece in a Torrance Apartment on Sunday night, then turned his gun on himself, the Los Angeles County coroner's office said Monday.

Officers were called at 9:17 p.m. Sunday to an apartment complex at 118 Palos Verdes Blvd., said Torrance police Sgt. Paul Kranke.

The dead were identified as Robert Howard and his niece, Tatiana Alexandria Howard, said coroner's Assistant Chief Ed Winter. Investigators believe the man shot the woman and then shot himself, Winter said.

Officers heard the final shot as they arrived, Kranke said.

"They initially thought it was a barricade situation and brought in an armored vehicle," he said.

But after trying to make contact with people inside the apartment, officers made entry and found the man and woman dead, Kranke said. No suspects were being sought, Kranke said.

— City News Service, photo via Shutterstock