Lupoe Family Murder-Suicide, Death – Ervin Lupoe shot and killed wife Ana Lupoe and 5 children in Wilmington CA –
Authorities in Los Angeles are investigating the deaths of seven members of the Lupoe family after their bodies were discovered inside a two-story home on the 1000 block of McFarland Avenue shortly before 9 a.m. Tuesday. Police say the case is being examined as a possible murder-suicide, though investigators stress that all possibilities are being explored.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, officers responding to the scene found the family in two upstairs bedrooms. In one room, the father, Ervin Lupoe, was discovered with his three daughters—8-year-old Brittney Lupoe and 5-year-old twins Jazmin and Jassely Lupoe. A revolver was located nearby. In another bedroom, the children’s mother, Ana Lupoe, was found with the couple’s 2-year-old twin sons, Benjamin and Christian Lupoe.
LAPD Deputy Chief Kenneth Garner said officers noticed the smell of what they believed to be fresh gunshot residue upon entering the home. Investigators believe the wife and children died sometime overnight after 4 p.m. Monday. The father’s death occurred later, after he contacted ABC7 early Tuesday.
Police say Lupoe sounded calm during the call and indicated he wanted to fax a letter. ABC7 immediately notified authorities, and police received a separate call around the same time from a man stating, “I just returned home and my whole family’s been shot.” Investigators believe the caller may have been Lupoe himself. Officers arrived within minutes, but Deputy Chief Garner said it was already too late to save anyone.
The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office later confirmed the identities of the deceased. Assistant Chief of Investigations Ed Winter said all seven family members died from gunshot wounds.
Authorities believe Lupoe was distraught over ongoing employment problems. In the faxed letter sent to ABC7, he wrote that both he and his wife had recently been fired from Kaiser Permanente and were under investigation related to alleged misrepresentation connected to childcare benefits. In the letter, Lupoe described feeling humiliated and overwhelmed, and claimed his wife believed ending their lives was preferable to leaving their children in the care of others.
