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'Killer Santa' Jeffrey Pardo Killed Self Due to Burns

by Terri Potratz | December 26, 2008 at 08:53 pm

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Police are now saying that the killer Santa who shot and killed several people within the home of his former in-laws on Christmas Eve decided to kill himself after suffering third-degree burns.

Bruce Jeffrey Pardo had $17,000 and a plane ticket to Canada strapped to his body, and police are now surmising that he opted to kill himself instead of fleeing to Canada due to the injuries he sustained from a premature explosion. 9 people died as a result of Pardo's shooting rampage, a revenge mission after a bitter divorce settlement.

The home exploded, windows were blown out, and part of Pardo's Santa suit melted onto his skin.

He suffered third-degree burns.

That's why police say he decided to kill himself rather than use the airline ticket to Canada that was in his pocket.

Pardo was carrying a makeshift gas dispenser, disguised as a wrapped Christmas gift, which set off an explosion inside the home:

"It appears he did have some intended targets, those being family members in the immediate family of his ex-wife," Covina Police Chief Kim Raney told reporters at a news conference.
After running out of bullets, Pardo used a makeshift gas dispenser to spray the inside of the home with a combustible vapour consisting partly of auto-racing fuel, which quickly ignited in an explosion, gutting the dwelling, police said.

Pardo was found at his brother's house about 40 miles away, dead from a gunshot wound to the head. His burns were extensive enough that part of his Santa suit had melted to his body.

Related NowPublic.com story: Christmas Massacre Gunman Planned to Escape to Canada

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