On Thursday, a teenage girl was fatally shot inside a home in Arcadia, while her 20-year-old boyfriend was later found in critical condition after attempting to take his own life in Pasadena, according to authorities.
Paul Anthony Cruz Jr. allegedly broke into the house and fired shots before fleeing the scene, as per official reports.
The police received a call about the possible shooting at around 11 a.m. on West Huntington Drive. The caller informed them that a man was inside the house and had discharged a firearm.
Upon their arrival, officers discovered the teenage girl with a gunshot wound, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. At this point, her identity has not been disclosed.
Authorities confirmed that Cruz had escaped prior to the police arriving. It’s believed he made his way to Pasadena, where about an hour later, he tried to take his own life.
Approximately at 12:30 p.m., Cruz was found suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to a spokesperson for Pasadena. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition.
A witness recounted to a local newspaper that several people witnessed the incident, which occurred on a sidewalk during daylight. He noted seeing the man lying face down moments before police arrived swiftly afterward. “It was really fast,” he recalled.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported that Cruz shot himself while Pasadena police were preparing to reach out to him. Further details regarding the lead-up to the shooting or the circumstances of the alleged attack are still under investigation.
Anyone with information about the shooting is encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Those who wish to remain anonymous can reach out to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.
