Officials: L.A. County firefighter fatally shoots wife, then himself

LA CANADA-FLINTRIDGE, Calif. — A Los Angeles County firefighter shot and killed his wife — herself a deputy with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department who was off duty at the time — and then himself, officials said Monday.

The killing happened Sunday night at the couple’s house in the Los Angeles suburb of La Canada Flintridge, where their 6-year-old son was home, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Carmen Arballo.

After the shooting, the firefighter took the boy to his grandparents’ home, Arballo said, then drove to a fire department warehouse where he worked about 15 miles away and turned the gun on himself.

“Today is a sad day for all public safety personnel in Los Angeles County,” county fire Chief Daryl L. Osby said in a written statement.

Authorities identified the deputy as Cecilia Hoschet, 32, who worked at the county jail’s inmate reception center. She joined the department two years ago, according to the sheriff’s department. The firefighter was James M. Taylor, who worked as a paramedic for six years, according to his department.