dwarven1
Lonely Mountain Arms
I don't know, Keith... sure sounds like having a gun might have helped from what I see here.
Weapon, gloves recovered near scene
By Frank C. Girardot and Bethania Palma, Staff Writers
Article Launched: 03/20/2008 11:23:22 PM PDT
WEST COVINA - Detectives continued their investigation Thursday into the slaying of a 45-year-old woman who was shot to death while on the phone with a 911 dispatcher.
Hsiao Hsu was shot as many as five times inside her home Wednesday in the 19700 block of Cameron Avenue, authorities said Thursday.
Of the five shots, authorities believe two were delivered while Hsu was on the phone with a dispatcher. The shooter apparently chased the woman through her home and continued shooting, they said.
Late Wednesday evening, investigators recovered a gun and a pair of gloves on a semi-private road behind the residence, according to neighbor Irene Marquez, who lives just behind Hsu's home on South Via Caballos.
A wrought iron gate at the home's driveway apparently had to be forced opened by sheriff's deputies who arrived at the crime scene moments after the emergency call, according to Mike McKeehan, of Gate Tronics Systems who was asked to look at the gate by homicide detectives.
A video camera at the gate was apparently in working order, McKeehan said.
Throughout the day, reporters and residents of the neighborhood known as Covina Hills mingled outside the home. Many said there had been a recent string of burglaries in the neighborhood, although a sheriff's sergeant described the area as "quiet."
Outside Hsu's home Thursday, Staci Oh, a friend of the victim, choked up with tears.
"I'm scared to death," she said. "I don't know what to do."
Hsu's husband Robert Chien, 44, remained in seclusion. In August, the couple and their two children moved into the nearly 6,000 square-foot gray slate home that has two basketball hoops and a tennis court, according to public records.
The home was listed for $1.2 million, but Marquez recalled Hsu, who was a Realtor, saying that she and Chien saved the seller from foreclosure, and purchased the home at a bargain price.
An immigrant from Taiwan, Hsu attended university in the United States and had taken to calling herself Michelle, according to Henry Chu of Walnut, a longtime friend.
Chu's wife Angela, owner of AC Real Estate, employed Hsu and holds the listing on Hsu's former home, just around the corner on Quail Valley Lane.
"We all belonged to the Overseas Chinese Youth Association together," Henry Chu said. "My daughter and her daughter did activities together. Most of us in that group have stayed in touch."
Hsu and Chien held a housewarming party in late summer, according Chu.
"There were many people there," he said. "Mostly from our group back then."
Public records indicate Chien is president of A-Top Industries, a computer case manufacturer based in Industry. Matthew Mak, who answered the phone at A-Top on Thursday recalled Hsu as kind and warm.
"She was the best human in the world," Mak said. "She helped all the people around her. She was a very, very nice person, the best."
Although the Chien home is in unincorporated Los Angeles County, West Covina police officials said Thursday that the area north and south of Cortez Street between Grand and Barranca avenues has been relatively crime free since January.
No residential burglaries were reported in the area during all of February through March 19, West Covina police Lt. Dan Brooks said.
"It's not unusual to get no burglaries in that area (over a month)," Brooks said.
A watch commander at the sheriff's Walnut/Diamond Bar Station, which patrols the county area, could only provide anecdotal data Thursday.
"It's been quiet down there," said Sgt. Bret Bodenstedt. "That's a quiet area."
Meanwhile, detectives continued their search for as many as three Latino men seen leaving the crime scene on foot, said sheriff's Lt. Dan Rosenberg.
Rosenberg said he could not discuss how the killers may have entered the property. He added Chien is not considered a suspect.
Neighbors said the couple purchased the new home just before the housing market began to slide and haven't been able to sell the old one.
A Realtor's sign is posted on the front lawn on Quail Valley Lane, and neighbors said Chien was apparently showing that house when his wife was shot.
Residents said Chien liked the house on Cameron because he is an avid tennis player.
Elsie Dahlin described the couple as great neighbors and friendly people.
"Lovely people, and the kids were terrific," she said. "They were a typical, lovely family."
Staff Writer Brian Day contributed to this story