Authorities are investigating the deaths of two adults and a child discovered inside a burning home in Maywood, California, early Saturday morning. The incident occurred in a town that previously voted to disband its police department.
Firefighters responded to the blaze around 2:20 a.m. and controlled the flames within 20 minutes. Upon extinguishing the fire, they discovered three bodies in a bedroom. Preliminary information from the Los Angeles County Fire Department indicates that all three individuals died from gunshot wounds. A firearm was also recovered from the scene.
The deceased have not been publicly identified. The adults were reportedly in their 40s, and the child was under the age of 10. Investigators believe the incident to be a murder-suicide, with preliminary information suggesting the father was the shooter and the fire originated on the first floor of the residence. The investigation is ongoing to determine the exact cause of the fire and who alerted authorities.
Maywood, located near Los Angeles, disbanded its local police department in 2010. The town is currently serviced by the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department. The decision to disband the police force followed issues with workers' compensation insurance and a history of claims against the department, which had been described as a refuge for officers dismissed officers from other departments. An investigation by the California Attorney General's Office in April 2007 found that the department engaged in excessive force, made arrests without probable cause, and was characterized by a lack of sensitivity and respect among officers and toward the public.