On January 27, 2024, in Granada Hills, California, 53-year-old Rodrigo Rodriguez De Leon was tragically killed in a murder-suicide incident. The Los Angeles Police Department responded to reports of a shooting at a residence on the 11600 block of Lerdo Avenue around 6:50 p.m. Upon arrival, officers forced entry into the home after receiving no response at the door. Inside, they discovered four deceased individuals, all members of the De Leon family.
The victims were identified as 80-year-old Arabella De Leon, 49-year-old Merceditas De Leon, and 53-year-old Rodrigo Rodriguez De Leon. The suspected shooter, 79-year-old Rodrigo Canuela De Leon, was found in a separate area of the house with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Investigators believe that Rodrigo Canuela De Leon fatally shot his wife, Arabella, and their two adult children before taking his own life.
A surviving family member, described as an adult daughter with special needs, managed to barricade herself in a room during the incident and called 911. She was unharmed and provided critical information to the authorities upon their arrival.
The De Leon family had been long-time residents of the Granada Hills neighborhood, and the incident shocked the local community. Neighbors and acquaintances expressed disbelief, noting that the family appeared to be normal and well-adjusted. A UPS driver familiar with the family remarked, "They seemed like a normal family... So, obviously anybody would be like, 'How could that happen?'"
As of now, the motive behind the tragic events remains unclear. The Los Angeles Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances leading up to the murder-suicide, seeking to understand what may have prompted such a devastating act within a seemingly ordinary family.
