Efforts to assist survivors of a shooting rampage that killed a father and his young son and left three other members of their Inglewood family wounded gained momentum Tuesday with a second police department announcing a fund to benefit the victims.
Filimon Lamas, 30, and his 4-year-old son were killed Saturday when suspect Desmond John Moses, their 55-year-old neighbor, opened fire in their home then set his own house ablaze, police said.
Lamas’ wife Gloria Jimenez, 28, and their 7-year-old daughter remained hospitalized on Monday. Jimenez, who was shot in both legs, was in good condition at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Their 7-year-old daughter, who suffered a gunshot wound to the chest, was in fair condition at Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA, according to police and hospital officials. Their 6-year-old son was shot in the pelvis and is now out of the hospital, while their 8-year-old son escaped injury.
Authorities said Moses, a licensed security guard, opened fire around 4 a.m. Saturday in the home that Jimenez and Lamas shared with their four children in the 4900 block of West 99th Street. A body believed to be that of Moses was found Saturday night, a .38-caliber revolver in hand, in the smoldering ruins of his home. He “had what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the head,” said Inglewood police Lt. James Madia.
A positive identification by the Los Angeles County coroner’s office was pending.
Moses blamed the family for the eviction notice he had received from their landlord, according to police. Police said he wore a painter’s mask when he attacked and had body armor on when he was found.
Lamas, who co-owned Chips restaurant in Hawthorne, according to published reports, was found shielding three of his children, police said.
Jimenez fled the scene, jumping a fence, with the fatally wounded boy in her arms, according to police, who said the child died from a gunshot wound to the head.
Neighbors told the Los Angeles Times that Moses had lived in one of two apartments at the rear of the property for at least two decades but had not paid rent in years. Relatives of Lamas and Jimenez lived in the other apartment.
Inglewood police on Monday set up a fund to benefit the victims.
Donations can be sent to the Lamas Family Donation Fund, account No. 5223, ICE Federal Credit Union, 1W. Manchester Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90301.
The Hawthorne Police Department, held a press conference Tuesday at Chips restaurant at 11908 S. Hawthorne Blvd. in Hawthorne to announce the establishment of the Jimenez/Lamas Donation Fund.
Donations to that fund can be made any local Wells Fargo Bank branch or by calling the Hawthorne Wells Fargo branch at (310) 973-6279 and referencing the Jimenez/Lamas Donation Fund, account number 4122412588.
