Janitor Kills Wife, Commits Suicide

A 25-year-old janitor allegedly shot and killed his airman wife and wounded an Air Force law enforcement agent before committing suicide in the couple’s on-base townhouse, military authorities said Friday.

The man, identified by Kern County coroner’s officials as Lafayette Gilbert Demyers, called 911 about 4:15 p.m. Thursday to report that he had killed his wife and was about to commit suicide, said base spokeswoman Lt. Cristin L’Esperance.

Among the first to respond was an agent from the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, which investigates serious crimes. As the agent approached the house, Demyers shot him once in the stomach, according to base spokesman Gary Hatch. The 32-year-old agent was treated at Antelope Valley Hospital and released that night, hospital officials said.

Air Force Security Forces soon cordoned off the area, evacuating some neighbors and using the base TV station to tell others to stay in their homes.

Failing to communicate with anyone in the house, authorities sent in a remote-controlled robot usually used in bomb scare situations. The robot found the dead couple around 9:30 p.m.

The woman was identified as LaTanya Sheryl Demyers, 23, an airman first class who had served at Edwards since June. She was a native of Los Angeles. The couple lived alone, authorities said, and Lafayette Demyers had a civilian custodial job at the air base.

Demyers used a semiautomatic assault rifle that was not registered with base officials, a violation of Air Force policy. L’Esperance said the Chinese-made weapon was not U.S. military issue.