Delco Man Shot 4 Family Members, Self Before Setting Home Ablaze: DA

EAST LANSDOWNE, PA — The causes of death for six members of the Delaware County family who died Feb. 7 have been released.

According to Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer, five members of the Le family died from gunshots while the sixth died from smoke inhalation on Feb. 7 in their East Lansdowne home.

Xuong Le, 40, his wife Britni N. McLaughlin, and their children Natalya Le, 17; Nakayla Le, 13 were shot, while and Xavier Le, 10, died from smoke inhalation.

The children were identified by dental records and the adults were identified through DNA analysis, Stollsteimer said.

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Authorities said it was Xuong Le's brother, Cahn Van Le, 42, who killed them then set fire to the home, destroying it and prompting a search for the Le family. Their remains were found in the charred rubble of the Lewis Street home.

Cahn Van Le died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to authorities.

Stollsteimer said Cahn Van Le got into an argument with Nakayla, and eventually grabbed a semi-automatic pistol outfitted to be a long gun rifle, and shot the other members of his family. The weapon was found alongside Cahn Van Le's remains.

The cause of the argument that led to the tragic incident will never be known, he said.

The parents of Xuong Le and Cahn Van Le were in the home at the time and went outside to call police when the gunfire began.

East Lansdowne Police Officer John Meehan, 44, and Lansdowne Police Officer David Schiazza, 54, were called to 58 Lewis St. at about 3:47 p.m. for a report of an 11-year-old girl being shot in the Lewis Street home.

They arrived with officers from Upper Darby and were met by gunfire from Cahn Van Le, who was posted up in the home's third floor.

Meehan and Schiazza were shot in the arm and leg, respectively. Stollsteimer said Meehan was able to return fire and reload his weapon even after being shot. They have since been released from the hospital and are recovering.

About 15 minutes after they were shot, the home went up in flames. Authorities said it's unclear how the fire was set.

Remains of three family members were found Thursday, Feb. 8, and three more were found Friday, Feb. 9.