9:25am UK, Friday December 26, 2008

At least eight people have died after a man dressed as Santa Claus opened fire at a Christmas Eve party in southern California.

Bruce Jeffrey Pardo’s body was found at his brother’s house

Police said three people thought to have been at the party remain missing and they expect the death toll to rise.

The gunman, believed to be 45-year-old Bruce Jeffrey Pardo, opened fire as soon as the door of the house was answered.

An eight-year-old girl who ran towards him was shot in the face.

Pardo continued to fire on the 30 people inside and the property, in the town of Covina, Los Angeles County, was engulfed in flames after an explosion was heard.

Flames engulf the house

Officers have said that Pardo used a homemade incendiary device to start the blaze.

He was later found dead at a relative’s house.

“He died of self-inflicted wounds. We believe it was a marital dispute,” said Lt Pat Buchanan of the Covina Police Department.

The missing people include the couple who own the home and Pardo’s ex-wife.

Two people wounded by gunfire were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police lieutenant Pat Buchanan said.

A third person was also admitted with a broken leg, he said.

Witnesses have told police that Pardo stripped off his Santa costume after the shooting and fled in street clothes.