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Inglewood Woman Speaks Out After Husband, 4-Year-Old Son Fatally Shot

INGLEWOOD (CBSLA.com) — Police released new details Monday about a weekend shooting spree that claimed the life of a man and his 4-year-old son.

Investigators say 55-year-old Desmond Moses opened fire on a family of six who live in another house on the same lot, located in the 4900 block of West 99th Street.

Neighbors said Moses came to the home Saturday night and opened fire on 28-year-old Gloria Jimenez when she opened the door, shooting her in the legs and abdomen.

The suspect allegedly walked in the house and shot Jimenez's husband, Filimon Lamas, as he shielded his three sons in their bedroom.

Lamas and his 4-year-old son were fatally injured.

Jimenez, her 7-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son suffered gunshot wounds and survived. As of Monday, Jimenez remained hospitalized in good condition and her daughter was in stable condition.

An 8-year-old boy escaped the incident without injury.

Police arrived to find the suspect's home burned to the ground; among the charred remains, investigators found a body they later said was Moses. He was reportedly wearing bullet-proof armor, holding a .38 caliber revolver and had suffered a gunshot wound to the head.

Family and friends said the Lamas family had been engaged in an ongoing dispute with Moses, who often complained about their children playing outside.

"He would come and complain about the kids playing in the back and, I mean, that's just to tell you that the guy wasn't stable," according to a family friend.

Moses had been living rent-free behind the family's house for years, according to relatives of the Lamas family. The property owner recently died and the new owner was having Moses evicted for not paying rent. That's when the disgruntled neighbor allegedly snapped. He allegedly blamed the Lamas family for his eviction.

"He was really weird and when they called the police they said, 'We can do nothing,'" family friend Judy Castellanos said.

Lamas was part-owner of Chips restaurant in Hawthorne and business was going well, relatives said.

He and his family were about to move but never got the chance.

On Monday, members of the community mourned for the Lamas family outside their home.

"People need to come together at this time and realize that this was an isolated incident," Bishop Juan Carlos Mendez said.

Gloria Jimenez released a statement from her hospital bed Monday: "It is a very sad time for our family and we appreciate your kind words and thoughts and quick response for our care. We feel blessed to have so many people there for us."

RELATED STORY: Autopsy Planned On Remains Found Inside Burned-Out Inglewood Home

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