Local News in Brief : Woman’s Dad Killed by Suitor, Police Say

A man whose romantic advances toward the daughter of a family friend had been rejected shot the young woman’s father to death Christmas night in an argument over her, authorities said Monday.

The suspect, Joe Guzman, 58, had fallen in love with the daughter of Pasquel Garcia, 47, Los Angeles Police Detective Raul Reyna said.

Guzman, “a close friend of the family,” went to Garcia’s home in the 3200 block of South Wadsworth Avenue to celebrate Christmas but became distraught when Garcia’s daughter, who is in her early 20s, rejected his advances, Reyna said.

Guzman left the house, went to his home and armed himself with a gun, Reyna said. Guzman returned to Garcia’s house and confronted him. Garcia was shot about 11 p.m. and died about 20 minutes later at California Medical Center.

Police arrested Guzman on suspicion of murder and jailed him without bail.