Murder/Suicide in Woodland Hills

July 10, 2001

 
Woodland Hills – On Tuesday, July 10, 2001, at approximately 4:10 p.m., Los Angeles Fire Department Paramedics were summoned to the single-family residence located in the 5300 block of Dubois Avenue in Woodland Hills. The paramedics were met by the residents’ son who advised them that he had discovered his mother deceased in the bedroom. The son reported that his mother might have committed suicide and added that his father was missing.
Believing that the female had possibly met with foul play, West Valley Division officers were summoned to investigate. They located the body of an elderly white male concealed under bed clothing in the same master bedroom as the female decedent.
West Valley Operations Support Division Homicide detectives responded to the scene and assumed investigative responsibility of the crime scene.
The decedents were identified as Charles Gomes and his wife of fifty years, Lillian. The investigation revealed that Mrs. Gomes shot and killed her husband then turned the gun on herself. Based on interviews with family and neighbors it was determined that a history of domestic violence may have contributed to the shooting.
This case is being handled as a murder-suicide.
This press release was prepared by Public Information Officer Jason Lee, Media Relations Section 213-485-3586.