Prosecutor, wife, son found dead

LAPD says a 14-year L.A. employee shot his wife and son, then killed himself in Northridge incident.

Police say a deputy city attorney shot his wife and 19-year-old son in Northridge, then killed himself.

A 60-year-old deputy city attorney and his wife and adult son were killed Wednesday in what authorities are describing as a probable murder-suicide.

About 9:15 a.m., the Los Angeles Police Department received a call about a “family disturbance” in suburban Northridge in the 9600 block of Vanalden Avenue and found three people had been shot and killed, said LAPD Officer Christopher No.

Detectives recovered two guns at the scene.

Los Angeles City Atty. Mike Feuer’s office released a statement Wednesday confirming that Deputy City Atty. Eric Lertzman, who joined the office in 2005, was involved in the incident.

“This is a horrible tragedy,” Feuer said in the statement. “As we search for answers to how this could happen, we mourn the victims and envelop those left behind with our love during this time of unbearable loss. Of course, we will provide members of our city attorney family with needed counseling and support.”

The deceased included Lertzman’s wife Sandra, 60, and his son Michael, 19, whose deaths authorities reported as homicides, according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office. Police said Eric Lertzman’s death was a suicide.

Neighbors told KABCTV Channel 7 that the father shot his wife and son but that his daughter managed to escape through a bathroom window and call police.

Neighbor Greg Demos told KTLA-TV Channel 5 that the woman ran to his home in her pajamas and said that her father had tried to shoot her.

Police confirmed that a woman managed to flee the home.