A radiologist and his wife were shot and killed outside their Southern California home, and investigators now allege that the gunman was the doctor’s son, who later died by suicide.
Shortly after 12 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30, authorities in Simi Valley responded to reports of gunfire and found Dr. Eric Cordes, 63, and his wife, Vicki, 66, unresponsive in the driveway of their home. According to the Simi Valley Police Department, the couple had been shot multiple times in their garage before collapsing outside. They were taken to a nearby hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
Witnesses reported seeing a black sedan speeding away from the scene following the shooting, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Hours later, officers in Chino — roughly 75 miles away — were called to a vehicle fire. There, investigators say the couple’s son, 37-year-old Keith Cordes of Kentucky, had set his car on fire and then fatally shot himself, ABC News reported.
The San Bernardino County Medical Examiner’s Office later confirmed that the remains found in the burned vehicle were those of Keith Cordes, according to the outlet. A firearm recovered nearby is believed to be the same weapon used in the killings of his father and stepmother, NBC News reported.
The hospital where Dr. Cordes practiced released a statement mourning the loss.
“The Adventist Health Simi Valley community is heartbroken by the tragic deaths of our longtime colleague, Dr. Eric Cordes, and his wife, Vicki,” the statement said. “Dr. Cordes was a highly respected, board-certified radiologist and beloved physician who served this community with compassion and excellence for nearly 30 years. Our hearts are with his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of working alongside him as we grieve this shocking loss.”
According to its website, Cordes also worked with Focus Medical Imaging.
Detectives are still working to determine a motive in the slayings.
