Body Found in Gutted Townhouse

Charred remains found Saturday in a gutted townhouse were believed to be those of the man who had barricaded himself inside for eight hours, fired at least 20 rounds at police and disappeared in a fire that destroyed homes and sent dozens of residents fleeing.

Police said the man, whose name was not released, possessed a volatile temperament and had had a fight with his wife Friday afternoon that eventually led to the firestorm in the 110-unit Brookmoore Homes complex on Cornwall Drive, a block east of Brookhurst Street.

“The police had come numerous times, and yesterday I thought it would be just the same old stuff,” said Reyna Quijada, 19, who has lived next door to the man for four years. But on Friday afternoon, she said, “it started getting out of control.”

Police arrived at the complex about 3 p.m. in response to a call from the man’s wife reporting that he was beating her, Sgt. Joe Vargas said.

“Really, we figured it was going to be a regular barricade situation, where you just sit and wait,” Vargas said. But when the man flashed a gun, a SWAT team was called and 36 units in the complex that were potentially in his line of fire were evacuated.

About 9 p.m., the man began shooting at police and the SWAT team. Police tried to force him out using tear gas, but had no success. They later discovered that he had at least three handguns and a shotgun, Vargas said.

“We did engage in conversation with him during this time,” the sergeant said. “He was very volatile, using profanity, threatening us. He was shouting things like, ‘I know you’re all wearing vests, so I’m going to go for head shots.’ Very recalcitrant.”

About 10 p.m. smoke could be seen rising from the complex, and soon the man’s home was engulfed in flames. Because he still posed a threat, firefighters at first did not attempt to extinguish the blaze.

Eventually, they attacked the fire with extended hoses. By the time it was under control at 11:30 p.m., two townhouses had been gutted and four others damaged. Displaced residents were taken to Magnolia High School, where the Red Cross had set up an evacuation center. Others stayed with family and friends waiting for word that they could return.

Quijada said the couple’s domestic trouble had “been going on for a while. They’re fighting a lot and we could always hear it.”

Neighbor Dave Charlton, 43, said the man’s wife had come to him for help Friday after calling police.

“She came by and she was kind of beat up,” he said. “I tried to calm her down, and then I heard the commotion out back.”

At that point, police said Charlton, his four sons and the suspect’s wife would have to evacuate.

Charlton, whose townhouse was later damaged, said he is staying with a brother-in-law in Garden Grove.

On Saturday morning, residents and others gathered along Ball Road and Cornwall behind police tape, which covered nearly the entire block.

“I just remember that we smelled it first,” said Danielle Ramirez, 29, who lives two blocks away. “There was this odor, and we were trying to figure out if it was a vehicle, a car on fire.” They followed the scent, she said, and saw that “the whole place was engulfed in flames.”

Kathy Liskum Ellis, 53, who lives across the street, said she was concerned when firefighters initially stood by.

“I said, ‘We’re not just going to stand there and do nothing. We can’t just let one person burn Anaheim down.’ But I didn’t realize at the time that he was still in there possibly with a gun,” Ellis added. “I really feel sorry for people who lived near that man.”

Grace Ajamian was in the crowd to try and recover what she could from her home, which was damaged in the blaze.

“I’m insured. I’m not worried about that,” said Ajamian, 54. “I want just to get my personal things--pictures, stuff that my mother has made for me.”

Like many other displaced residents, Ajamian briefly stopped by the Magnolia High evacuation center and then went to a relative’s home.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do. This,” she said, pointing to her clothes, “is all I have left, what I walked out with.”