Family Quarrel Ends in Shotgun Suicide

A 41-year-old Palmdale man shot and killed himself early Saturday morning near his estranged wife’s home in Chatsworth after he entered the residence and threatened the woman, their two teen-age children and a visiting 16-year-old, Los Angeles Police said.

Willard C. Hall was pronounced dead at the scene after shooting himself in the head with a 12-gauge shotgun, Officer Charles Stropko said.

Stropko said Hall entered the home of his wife, Patricia Jo Hall, in the 20300 block of Lassen Street at 1:15 a.m. The couple argued, and the husband got a shotgun from the garage, Stropko said. Hall pointed the weapon at his wife but did not shoot, Stropko said.

The woman fled the house, and Hall fired at the visiting boy, who suffered a minor foot injury, Stropko said. Hall also threatened, but did not harm, his children, Stropko said.

Hall then walked a short distance on Lassen Street with the family dog, the officer said.

Police, summoned about 2:15 a.m., discovered Hall crouched behind a neighbor’s hedge. Officers, hearing a shotgun blast, believed they were being fired at and fired six rounds at Hall, wounding him once, Stropko said.

When officers approached Hall, they discovered that he had shot himself, Stropko said.