Man Kills Sisters and Self, Police Say

A former Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy fatally shot two sisters in their parents’ suburban home on Christmas Eve and then killed himself, Los Angeles police said.

The gunman and the younger sister, his estranged girlfriend, were found dead by paramedics in the living room of the spacious, white house on Devonshire Street, police said. The older sister was pronounced dead at Northridge Hospital Medical Center.

The sisters were identified by police as Angela Chimienti, 19, and Serafina Chimienti, 25.

The Sheriff’s Department identified the killer as Edward Vizcarra, 31, of Newhall, a deputy from May 1988 to June 1995, who was given a medical retirement for an on-the-job injury while working out of the Century City station, according to Sheriff’s Sgt. Robert Stoneman.

There was no disciplinary or psychological cause for the separation, Stoneman said, adding: “That’s all we know about him.”

Title records show the house, just west of Winnetka Avenue, as being owned by Saverio and Vita M. Chimienti. Friends and neighbors described Saverio Chimienti as a high-fashion tailor in Beverly Hills.

The triple shooting stunned residents of the upscale neighborhood. Distressed friends of the Chimienti family stood briefly at the police barrier seeking information as police interviewed three family members inside.

About an hour after the shooting, police escorted the other family members into patrol cars parked on Devonshire. Several weeping teenagers consoled them briefly before the cars drove off.

Neighbors said they believed the older sister interceded in an argument between the former deputy and her sister Angela. Offering few details of the shooting, police said Tuesday evening that they had not established a motive, though it appeared to have been a domestic conflict. No other suspects are being sought, they said.

“We are trying to develop the whole picture,” said Sgt. William Guerrero, press relations officer for the LAPD’s Devonshire Division. He described the murder weapon as a handgun but declined to say what type or how many shots were fired.

Guerrero said Devonshire officers were sent to the house at 2:50 p.m. to investigate a 911 call. By the time police arrived, Los Angeles City Fire Department paramedics were already tending to the three gunshot victims.

Neighbors described the Chimientis, as industrious and popular Italian immigrants.

“They are a very hard-working family,” said neighbor Jack Fisher, who stood barefoot in a howling wind just before dusk Tuesday, futilely trying to learn what had happened.

Fisher said the sisters had been baby-sitters for his 15-year-old son in past years, and more recently, Angela and her twin sister, Cathy, had completed training to become medical assistants.

The youngest of the four Chimienti children, Cosimo, who is about 17, attends a military academy in the San Diego area and had just returned home on Christmas break, Fisher said.

Another neighbor, Robin Sterk, said her children had gone to school with the Chimientis.

“Very nice people,” she said tearfully before excusing herself to join the family at the Devonshire station.

The incident occurred about 1 1/2 miles from the scene of another Chatsworth multiple homicide almost a year ago. A film-industry landscaper and his wife were shot to death and their teenage son wounded on Jan. 3 in their Owensmouth Avenue home. Two of their son’s friends were later arrested on suspicion of the killings.