Company Owner Shot to Death by Former Executive

A San Fernando baby-clothes manufacturer was shot and killed by his troubled company’s former vice president whom he had attacked with a hammer during a business dispute, police said Wednesday.

Aaron P. Thomas, 48, of Northridge died Tuesday night after being shot several times with a .38-caliber revolver, San Fernando Police Lt. Rico Castro said. At least one of the bullets struck Thomas in the head, Castro said.

The shooting occurred at Thomas’ Library Street business, Tailored Baby Inc.

Victor Soto, 35, of Chatsworth was released early Wednesday after investigators corroborated his claims of self-defense, Castro said.

Soto had quit his job Tuesday, possibly because of disagreements with Thomas over how to run the business, Castro said. As Soto left work between 3 and 4 p.m., he was asked by Thomas to “come back tonight and we’ll talk about it,” according to Castro.

“We discovered the business was not doing well, that there was an ongoing dispute between Thomas and several of his employees over the shape of the business and their relationships,” Castro said. Employees told detectives that the company was in debt and was having trouble paying its workers, Castro said.

Tailored Baby was incorporated in 1963, according to the California secretary of state’s office.

Soto pulled the handgun from his desk after Thomas attacked him with a hammer, Castro said. The men were alone in Soto’s office, arguing over the business, Castro said. The shooting occurred about 7:30 p.m., after other employees had left work for the day.

After surrendering to police, Soto was treated at a local hospital for a head injury inflicted by the hammer, Castro said.

Castro said police learned Thomas had used the hammer earlier to threaten other employees. “So that’s a major thing that leads us to believe it was self-defense,” he said.

Castro said Soto phoned the police after the shooting and wept when told just before his release that Thomas was dead. “He seemed very remorseful and shocked,” Castro said of Soto during his questioning by police. Throughout his questioning, Soto asked about Thomas’ condition, Castro said.

Castro said the evidence would be presented to the district attorney’s office for review, but that the police did not plan to press for charges against Soto.