Gunmen Kill 5, Selves in Separate Rampages

In separate Northern California incidents 30 miles and a few hours apart, five people were killed by gunmen who took their own lives Thursday.

The dead included two children. Six adults were left hospitalized with gunshot wounds.

Authorities in this small Monterey County farming community were trying to determine a motive for the early morning attack at the Nakashima Nursery that claimed the lives of four people, including the gunman.

“They (the survivors) don’t know the suspect, don’t know who he is--they have no idea what caused this,” said Monterey County Sheriff Norm Hicks.

Hicks said the gunman, identified only as a white male, was dressed in camouflage fatigues and armed with a shotgun, automatic pistol and revolver. He also carried a live hand grenade that he left in the nursery owner’s ranch-style home.

In San Jose, about 30 miles north, Joseph Abusleiman, 42, was found dead in his car Thursday morning of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, said Sgt. Dennis Luca. A weapon was found in the car.

Authorities said Abusleiman went on a shooting rampage Wednesday night and first shot and wounded his mother-in-law, Josephine Alvarez, 47, at her apartment. Then he drove to the home of his father-in-law, Bernardino Alvarez, where his estranged wife and two children lived.

Police said Abusleiman shot his wife, Veronica, 30, and his children, Michelle, 5, and Joseph, 7.

The children were pronounced dead at the scene. The condition of Veronica Abusleiman, who underwent surgery, was unknown. Her mother was in fair condition.

John Alvarez, Josephine’s brother, said most of the family did not like Abusleiman, but nobody expected him to go on a rampage. He said Abusleiman was born in Lebanon and had lived in the area for about 15 years, working as a limousine driver and delivery worker for IBM.