Los Angeles County firefighter kills wife in apparent murder-suicide

LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE, Calif. -- A Los Angeles County firefighter-paramedic fatally shot his wife, a sheriff's deputy, at their residence in La Canada Flintridge Sunday night before taking his own life at a fire facility in Pacoima, authorities said Monday morning.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department confirmed the victim is Deputy Cecilia Hoschet who worked at the Inmate Reception Center of the Los Angeles County Jail.

A neighbor called 911 after reportedly hearing a woman screaming in the 5000 block of Crown Avenue in La Canada Flintridge shortly before 10 p.m. Sunday.

Responding sheriff's deputies found the 32-year-old woman in a bedroom suffering from a gunshot wound. The door of the home was open when authorities arrived.

Hoschet was pronounced dead at the scene.

The couple's 6-year-old son was inside the home at the time of the altercation and shooting. The suspect dropped his son off at his grandparent's home and then drove to a Los Angeles County fire facility in the 12600 block of Osborne Street in Pacoima, where he killed himself.

The suspect was found suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside a government vehicle. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl L. Osby identified the suspect as James M. Taylor, a six-year veteran of the department.

Neighbors told Eyewitness News the couple had lived in the neighborhood for about five years and were fairly quiet.

"We lost a wonderful deputy last night," L.A. County Sheriff Jim McDonnell said. "Deputy Cecilia Hoschet impressed everyone she met at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department with her positive and helpful approach to her work. She enjoyed being a deputy and really liked people. She leaves behind a 6-year-old son, whom she loved dearly. She will be missed."

Sheriff's homicide Lt. Dave Coleman called the incident "tragic."

"It's tough on everybody, responding deputies, certainly the families are going to be severely affected by it, and our great concern right now is the well-being of the child," Coleman said. "We don't know if he witnessed the incident. He's with family and we'll interview the child at a later time."

Hoschet served with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for two years, having begun her career in a civilian capacity.

Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.