Man barricaded in Highland Park home kills himself

Woman fled with two children before gunman committed suicide.

From A Times Staff Writer

April 14, 2009

A man who barricaded himself inside a Highland Park home Monday had become despondent over money and his personal relationships and assaulted the mother of his two children with a pistol before turning the weapon on himself hours later, authorities said.

Joaquin Salgado, 28, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his children's bedroom in the 6100 block of Strickland Avenue about 9:20 a.m., Los Angeles Deputy Police Chief Sergio Diaz said.

Diaz said Salgado assaulted the mother of his children a little after 12:30 a.m. and that she fled the home with the two children, ages 8 and 3. 

Police officers later tried to make contact with Salgado at the home but were unsuccessful. Diaz said officers called in a SWAT team about 5 a.m. Salgado was found dead later in the morning.