Officials: man who commited suicide in parked car lacked proper licenses
The 47-year-old man who shot and killed himself in Burbank last week was wrapped up in a statewide sting operation in which 113 people were cited for allegedly submitting construction bids without being properly licensed.
The man, who Burbank police identified this week as Harold M. Sommer of Simi Valley, shot himself Oct. 13 in his parked vehicle after receiving a citation from the California Contractors State License Board.
State investigators posed as homeowners seeking construction bids for improvement projects, including landscaping, cabinetry and painting, according to the agency, which worked with local agencies from cities including Orange, Madera and Los Banos.
Burbank police, the city attorney’s office and the California Highway Patrol partnered with the license board for the Oct. 13 operation, after which officers responded to reports of a gunshot victim in the 200 block of South Keystone Street at 11:34 a.m.
Paramedics pronounced Sommer dead at the scene.
In a statement, Burbank police said Sommer “may have been despondent” after being cited.
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Burbank police: man commits suicide after state officials issue citation
-- Jason Wells, Times Community News