Phoenix police kill 84-year-old man who attacked grandchildren and teenage friend

PHOENIX (AP) _ Police killed an 84-year-old man Monday after he fatally shot his granddaughter and a teenage friend who was staying with the family, authorities said. <br/><br/>The shooting began after

Monday, February 12th 2007, 8:08 pm

By: News On 6

PHOENIX (AP) _ Police killed an 84-year-old man Monday after he fatally shot his granddaughter and a teenage friend who was staying with the family, authorities said.

The shooting began after the suspect got into an argument with his 20-year-old grandson about the grandson's teenage friend, police said.

The gunman shot his grandson in the leg and fatally wounded the 16-year-old friend, according to investigators. He then shot and killed his 18-year-old granddaughter after she confronted him about the attack.

Police surrounded the suspect in the home where the shootings occurred. An officer opened fire after the man raised his gun, Detective Bob Ragsdale said.

The identities of the gunman and the victims were not immediately released.

In Los Angeles, police shot and killed a mentally ill man after he tried to stab an officer in the chest during a disturbance at a group home for the disabled, authorities said.

Officers were called to the home early Sunday when Francisco Mondragon, 24, became violent and threatened two residents and a staff member.

Mondragon lunged at one of the officers with a screwdriver-like object and tried to stab him in the chest, police spokesman Lt. Paul Vernon said. The officer's bulletproof vest prevented the weapon from going through.

Mondragon had been diagnosed with depression and schizophrenia.