Trabuco Canyon Community Attempts To Heal After Murder-Suicide Involving Child
TRABUCO CANYON (CBSLA.com) — A Trabuco Canyon community is attempting to heal after a murder-suicide there Wednesday during a SWAT standoff.
Authorities said Luis Guillermo Arizmendi, 41, murdered his 3-year-old son Sebastian and then killed himself.
The man and his son lived in a home with his wife and an infant daughter on Swallows Lane.
CBS2's Michele Gile on Thursday spoke to devastated neighbors. She also spoke to neighbors who said the suspect had an explosive temper.
"Basically, I just said 'You just keep to yourself and stay with your family and leave my family alone,' " said neighbor Al Perin.
He told Gile he had had a run-in with Arizmendi a few weeks ago.
Perin and his wife said they have long been concerned about Arizmendi's wife and two small children.
"Whenever you see a situation where an individual appears to be so angry they don't want to communicate with their neighbors and any communication you get is one of confrontation, you have concern for your own family as well," Perin said.
SWAT had responded to the home after a call about domestic violence just after 6 p.m. Wednesday. A 911 hang-up call was traced to the residence.
Neighbors said they saw the man's wife run down the street holding their 18-month-old daughter.
Arizmendi was reportedly holed up in a bathroom with the boy and holding a handgun.
Neighbors said they were afraid of Arizmendi, and police had been to the home on other occasions.
"We would be very scared," said Isabella Perin, "and we saw the cops there two weeks ago doing a welfare check. We didn't know if it was for him or her, but we figured out it was her, from her work, checking on her."
A group of seventh-graders affected by the tragedy sold lemonade and cookies Thursday to help the survivors.
"We just wanted to do something that could shed light on this rainy situation and make everyone smile in a situation that brought us all down," said Reagan Hayes.
Gile reported that members of the Stonecliffe community plan to tie ribbons around trees to remember the two who died and in support of the mother and daughter who survived.
Police said Arizmendi was unemployed and the family moved frequently.
