A single-story home on a quiet street in Lancaster, California became a scene of tragedy Sunday night when a father shot and killed his four children and their grandmother.
29-year-old Germarcus David was arrested on suspicion of murder Monday morning in connection with the grisly scene, according to Deputy Trina Schrader with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. He is being held in lieu of $2 million bail.
Police responded to calls of an emergency at the home in the 3500 block of Garnet Lane around 10:30 p.m. Sunday, officials said. When they arrived, they found the children — all under the age of 12 — and mother-in-law, in her fifties, all with gunshot wounds to their upper bodies.
All five were pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. Their names have not been released.
David is a licensed security guard whose prior firearm permit was cancelled, according to the California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. Officials did not immediately respond to inquiries about the cancellation.
On Monday, yellow caution tape blocked off the street, where some sparse Christmas decorations dotted nearby lawns.
Angelo Beltran, who lives a few doors down from the house where the shooting took place, heard screaming late Sunday.
“We saw a woman screaming outside, and we don’t know who she is but she was yelling,” Beltran said.
Grace Beltran, who lives in the same home, said she heard a woman yell, “My babies are gone.”
Marco Estrada is staying with his niece five houses away and said he would sometimes walk his dog around the neighborhood and see a man sitting on the front porch of the house.
“He seemed nice, quiet. You wouldn’t think much of him,” Estrada said.
Waki Jones said he learned the kids he has been picking up for daycare for the last several years were gone Monday morning.
“Someone told me or I asked which house where the shooting was, and then I don’t remember anything after that,” Jones said.
Jones identified the oldest kids as Amaya and Demarcus.
“Amaya was a sweet girl and every morning the mom would tell her, ‘Say good morning to coach,’” Jones said, which was what the kids called him.
“She was always protecting her brother. Making sure he was safe at school,” Jones said. “It’s just unbelievable. I can’t believe they’re gone.”
He did not know David personally, but the two would sometimes talk about taking care of children. David recently promised to take the kids fishing in the last month, but Jones said the kids told him the plans fell through.
Jones said he has been a daycare provider for several years and always treats his kids like they are his own.
“To do this to the kids, it’s cowardly, it’s just unbelievable,” Jones said.
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