3 Die in Domestic Dispute

A 60-year-old ex-convict gunned down his estranged wife and her male housemate with assault rifles Monday, then killed himself with a shot to the head, police said.

La Habra police identified the gunman as Richard William Willsey of Whittier and his victims as Nancy Marie Willsey, 51, and Dennis Hoefs, 59.

The two victims worked together at Votaw Precision Technologies in Santa Fe Springs, a toolmaking company serving the aerospace industry. Hoefs was an estimator and Nancy Willsey was an administrative assistant.

Officers said Willsey fired at least 50 rounds inside and outside the two-bedroom home on North Lois Street. Spent shell casings were scattered throughout the property.

“In my 26 years, I’ve never seen anything like this, where so many rounds were used,” said La Habra Police Capt. Terry Rammell, who said “outrage, jealousy . . . or a bitter divorce” may have provoked the shooting.

At least 100 more rounds of ammunition for a Chinese Norinco, a knockoff of an AK-47 assault rifle, and a semiautomatic pistol were found in a drum inside the carhe had rented the day before, Rammell said.

Terrified residents in what is one of La Habra’s oldest neighborhoods were awakened about 6 a.m. by what some described as an explosive sound, then a series of pops. At least one of the residents saw the gunman, and another witness watched in horror as the body of Nancy Willsey was dragged in from the front porch. Numerous neighbors called the 911 emergency number.

Police said Willsey had hidden behind the house and near a detached garage, waiting for Hoefs to leave for work. When Hoefs walked out the back door, Willsey apparently started firing an assault rifle. The wounded Hoefs crawled back into the kitchen, where Willsey then shot him to death.

The gunman then started chasing and firing at his estranged wife, who was halfway out the front door when she was gunned down, police said. A witness, who was not identified, watched Willsey drag his wife Nancy back indoors. As Nancy Willsey lay near him in the living room, he turned one of the rifles to his own head and fired.

As a felon on probation, Richard Willsey was prohibited from having any guns, much less assault rifles.

He also was under a court restraining order barring him from the La Habra house. He had been convicted in June 1997 of making terrorist-like threats against his estranged wife and others, said Rammell.

Neighbors and acquaintances described Nancy Willsey and Hoefs as a friendly couple who loved to fish, watch races, collect cars and travel by motor home. They frequently attended gatherings at the La Habra Temple Baptist Church.

Votaw Human Resources Manager Betty Taylor said a pall hung over the manufacturing plant, where the victims “were our employees, and they were very good employees.” She said the company decided to remain circumspect out of respect for relatives, but she added: “Obviously this is a tragedy.”

Times staff writer Nancy Wride contributed to this story