Arms Cache Found at Murder House

A Panorama City clerk who killed himself and his 10-month-old son in his home after a five-hour standoff with police had no known record, but had several weapons and a large store of ammunition in the house, authorities said Tuesday.

The father and son were identified as Michael Sommer, 32, and Brandon Cox, who were found dead at 8:30 p.m. Monday in the house in the 8300 block of Costello Avenue, said Los Angeles Police Detective Jim Vojtecky.

A police negotiating team and psychiatrist talked to Sommer for nearly five hours Monday, attempting to persuade him to surrender. The father stopped talking to them and shot his son and himself.

The hostage situation and shooting were prompted by the impending breakup of Sommer’s relationship with his son’s mother, Tracy Cox, police said. Sommer had held the mother hostage for an hour before releasing her, and she contacted police.

After police heard shots from the house, officers moved in and found the bodies. Vojtecky said two handguns were found on Sommer’s body. A quick search of the home uncovered three other handguns, two rifles, a shotgun and a large store of ammunition for those weapons as well as other firearms not found in the house, Vojtecky said.

Police said Sommer was a clerk, but they did not know where he worked. Vojtecky said police had not found any evidence that Sommer had a record of violence or crime.