Christmas Massacre Gunman Planned Escape to Canada

Police say they found $17,000 strapped to the leg of Bruce Jeffrey Pardo and a plane ticket for a December 25th flight departing from LAX to Canada. Officials say Pardo was severely burned when he set the house on fire. He was found with 3rd degree burns to his arms and legs with the Santa suit burned into his skin, according to Police Chief Kim Raney

Pardo was carrying what appeared to be a large present but was what police described as a home-made pressurized device used to spray some kind of flammable substance.

"We actually believe he was attempting to create an aerosol or some kind of fume that would ignite later," said Covina police Lt. Pat Buchanan. "We still don't know what set it off."

The unemployed aerospace engineer had no criminal record and nothing in his personal history to suggest a predisposition to violence, police said. Friends from a church Pardo attended regularly expressed disbelief.  "He was just the nicest guy," said Jan Detanna, who worked with Pardo as an usher at the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church.