A father’s horrific act of violence against his own family has shattered one of Los Angeles County’s safest communities, leaving neighbors grappling with the unthinkable reality that domestic terror can strike anywhere.
Story Highlights
- Hector Alfaro, 52, murdered his wife and 17-year-old daughter before killing himself in their Lakewood home
- A 19-year-old daughter survived after her father shot at her and called 911 to report the carnage
- Community raised over $70,000 through GoFundMe to support surviving family members
- The tragedy occurred in Lakewood, considered one of the safest cities in LA County
- Candlelight vigil drew hundreds mourning victims described as beloved community members
A Morning of Terror in America’s Suburbia
The call came in at 7:55 a.m. on a Thursday morning that would forever change the Alfaro family. Deputies rushed to the 5800 block of Lorelei Avenue in Lakewood after receiving reports of an assault with a deadly weapon. What they discovered inside the modest family home defied the peaceful reputation of this Los Angeles County suburb.
Hector Lionel Alfaro had systematically executed his family members before turning the gun on himself. His wife, 48-year-old Roxana Rodriguez, lay dead from a gunshot wound to the torso in the master bedroom. Down the hall, their 17-year-old daughter Sienna “Lilly” Alfaro had been shot in the upper torso in her own bedroom. The father’s body was found in the den, also with an upper torso gunshot wound.
One Daughter’s Desperate Escape
The sole survivor, a 19-year-old daughter whose name has not been released, managed to escape the carnage and call for help. She told deputies her father had shot at her before she fled the house. When emergency responders arrived, they found her distraught outside the home, the only witness to her family’s destruction.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigators recovered two firearms from the scene. By 8:51 a.m., firefighters had cleared the scene with no transports to the hospital needed. The speed and finality of the violence left even seasoned law enforcement officials shaken by what they discovered inside this ordinary American home.
Community Rallies Around Tragedy’s Survivors
The following day, hundreds gathered for a candlelight vigil to honor the victims and support the surviving family members. Teammates from Beach Futbol Club, where Sienna played soccer, remembered the teenager as a “ray of sunshine” whose infectious energy touched everyone around her. The stark contrast between her vibrant life and violent death highlighted the senseless nature of domestic violence.
A GoFundMe campaign launched in conjunction with the vigil quickly raised over $70,000 by Saturday afternoon. Organizers emphasized that the surviving siblings face “a long journey of healing” requiring funds for funerals, counseling, and basic living expenses. The overwhelming community response demonstrated how deeply the tragedy affected residents of this typically quiet suburb.
Shattering the Illusion of Safety
Lakewood’s reputation as one of the safest cities in Los Angeles County made this familicide-suicide particularly jarring for residents. Neighbors described the Alfaros as a “very nice” family, with Sienna characterized as exceptionally “sweet.” The absence of any prior warning signs or police calls to the address left investigators searching for answers about what triggered such devastating violence.
Captain Daniel Holguin of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department assured residents this was “an isolated incident” with no ongoing public safety concerns. However, the recovery of multiple firearms and the systematic nature of the killings raised uncomfortable questions about domestic violence warning signs that may have gone unrecognized by those closest to the family.
Sources:
Lakewood murder-suicide victims honored at candlelight vigil
Shooting deaths of teen, 2 adults in Lakewood home confirmed murder-suicide
