Indian kills self, kin in posh LA suburb

An unemployed financial advisor killed himself and five family members in a posh Los Angeles suburb in a crime that police said was likely to be linked to his financial despondency.

An unemployed financial advisor killed himself and five family members in a posh Los Angeles suburb in a crime that police said was likely linked to his financial despondency, the Los Angeles Times reported.

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Karthik Rajaram, aged 45, killed his wife, mother-in-law and three children before taking his own life in the gated community of Porter Ranch in the northwest San Fernando Valley, police said.

"We believe this to be a murder-suicide," said Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief Michael Moore said. "It appears (the gunman) killed his family and then took his own life."

The bodies of the man's 39-year-old wife, 70-year-old mother-in-law, and three sons - ages 19, 12 and seven - were found inside the home's bedrooms.

Moore said it appeared that the gunman shot the victims on Saturday night and left three letters admitting to the killings. He said the gunman had worked previously for Price Waterhouse and Sony Pictures and "had attested to some financial difficulties", Moore said. "He had become despondent over his financial" situation.