South Bay House Fire May Be Murder; 2 Dead, 1 Injured

HAWTHORNE, CA -- An investigation was underway into the deaths of a woman in her 90s and her son, who died en route to a hospital Friday after his mother was pulled from a burning home in Hawthorne with an apparent gunshot wound.

The blaze was reported at 12:06 p.m. in the 13200 block of Jefferson Avenue, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Firefighters informed Hawthorne police and sheriff's investigators that the woman, who was pronounced dead at the scene, had an apparent gunshot wound to the head, Lt. Steve Jauch of the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau told reporters at the scene.

There was no immediate word on what caused the death of her son, who was reportedly in his 70s, or what sparked the blaze, but an arson investigation was underway and will determine if it was set intentionally.

The fire was first reported by a passing motorist who saw smoke coming from the home and called 911, said Ryan Rouzan of the Sheriff's Information Bureau.

Firefighters and Hawthorne police forced entry and found the woman unresponsive in the living room. Firefighters then found the man in a bathroom, Rouzan said.

It took 19 minutes to extinguish the flames, county fire department Inspector Gustavo Medina said.

Sheriff's homicide detectives were assisting Hawthorne police in the investigation into the deaths.

-- City News Service, photo via Shutterstock