Youth, Widow Held in Slaying Initially Thought to be Suicide
A Palmdale man originally thought to have committed suicide last month was actually shot to death by a 17-year-old boy, who was arrested and charged along with the man’s widow, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported Wednesday.
The boy was charged with murder Wednesday in Sylmar Juvenile Court, Sgt. Terry Judge said.
Joanne Kirby, 30, widow of Christopher Kirby, also 30, was charged in Antelope Valley Municipal Court with being an accessory to murder, Judge said. Both were arrested Tuesday night.
An unidentified weapon believed used in the slaying also was confiscated, Judge said.
Christopher Kirby’s body was found Dec. 29 near the intersection of El Camino Drive and Avenue S-4 in Lakeview, south of Palmdale, Judge said. The death was ruled a suicide, but a subsequent investigation led to the arrests of the boy and Kirby, Judge said.
Authorities had not determined a motive in the slaying.
Judge said he did not know if Joanne Kirby and the boy are related.
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