Investigators focus on suspect in Philadelphia area fire and shooting that left 6 dead, 2 hurt
PHILADELPHIA — Authorities suspect family members who died in a fire outside Philadelphia were killed by a relative who also shot and wounded two police officers, a prosecutor said Friday.
Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said at a news conference that six sets of remains have been recovered from the ashes of a fire that destroyed the East Lansdowne home on Wednesday.
He said Canh Le, 43, is believed to have killed his niece and likely killed the others, and that Le also died.
“Our assumption is that they were shot by gunfire and then a fire started, but we have no idea if that is true,” he said.
Gunfire could be heard during a 911 call, and Stollsteimer said Le’s mother told authorities he had shot one of her grandchildren. Le’s mother fled the house to seek safety and call for help.
He said surviving family members have been in shock and no motive has been identified.
“They actually have no idea, he just went haywire,” he said.
Margie McAboy, spokeswoman for the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, confirmed that the victims are believed to be Canh Le’s brother, Xuong Le, 40; Xuong Le’s wife, Britni McLaughlin Le, 37; and the couple’s three children.
Stollsteimer said remains believed to be Canh Le’s were found near a gun that was also recovered from the burn debris.
Court records show Canh Le was arrested in Delaware County in 2006 and charged with making terroristic threats, trespassing and disorderly conduct. Details of the incident were not immediately available, but the first charge was later dropped and he was placed in a diversion program for the two lesser charges, requiring him to serve 32 hours of community service and pay $1,400 in fines during a year of probation.
Authorities say police encountered gunfire when they responded to a call for a child — eventually identified as the niece — who was shot inside the home Wednesday afternoon. The building went up in flames when two police officers were shot and injured.
Lansdowne Officer David Schiazza, 54, was released from a hospital Thursday after being treated for a leg wound. McAboy said the other injured officer, 44-year-old John Meehan of the East Lansdowne department, would likely be discharged after surgery for an arm wound.
Stollsteimer has said Upper Darby officers saved the lives of the two injured officers by getting them to safety.
East Lansdowne is located about 5 miles west of downtown Philadelphia.
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Scolforo reported from Harrisburg.