Broken Relationship Ends Valentine’s Day Murder-Suicide

"Broken Relationship Ends In Valentine’s Day Murder-Suicide"
 
Tarzana – On February 14, 2001, at 9:00 am, a handyman employed by the owner of a single family residence, in the 19600 block of Rosita Street, arrived at the home and knocked on the door. He was admitted by the homeowner, 42 year old Kathleen Anne Hirsch-Jolly. After entering the residence, the handyman was approached by a male who was armed with both a shotgun and a semi-automatic handgun. The suspect ordered the handyman to sit on a nearby couch, while Ms. Hirsch-Jolly began pleading with the gunman to put the guns down. At that time the suspect began firing shots at Ms. Hirsch-Jolly from the handgun , causing her to fall dead in the kitchen area of the home. The handyman fled from the location to a neighbors home where he called 911.
Responding patrol officers entered the residence and discovered Ms. Hirsch-Jolly’s body, dead from multiple gunshot wounds to the torso, and began a search of the residence for the suspect. The suspects lifeless body was found in the closet of an upstairs bedroom. He was dead from an apparent self inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
West Valley Homicide Detectives are conducting the investigation. It has been determined that the victim and the suspect, who has been identified, had been involved in a relationship and had recently broken up.
The identity of the suspect is being withheld pending the notification to his next of kin. The investigation is being handled as a murder-suicide at this time.
This press release was prepared by Detective Rick Swanston, West Valley Homicide Detectives.