An argument between a couple in South L.A. ended with the man shooting his wife and two stepchildren, then turning the gun on himself, police said.

The man, described as in his 50s, first shot his 39-year-old wife in the face, then his 10-year-old stepson in the leg and his 16-year-old stepdaughter in the back before fatally shooting himself, said LAPD Officer Mike Lopez.

The stepdaughter was listed in critical condition and the mother was in stable condition, Lopez said. The boy was expected to survive.

The gunfire erupted shortly after 10 p.m. in the 1400 block of East 51st Street, according to Officer Aareon Jefferson, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department.


Police had initially said the two children were 8 and 20 years old.

Times staff writer Matt Hamilton contributed to this report.

joseph.serna@latimes.com

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UPDATES:


8:40 a.m.: This article was updated with the gunman’s relationship to the victims.

7:15 a.m., Nov. 23: This article was updated with the age of one of the victims.

11:55 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details about what led to the shooting and the number of victims involved.

This article was originally published at 10:55 p.m. Nov. 22