SEAL BEACH, Calif. — The husband of an 86-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of murder after his wife of nearly 70 years was found dead from a gunshot to the head in a Southern California nursing home. The couple's daughter told the Los Angeles Times the shooting a month before their 70th anniversary was “a mercy killing” by a husband who had long fed and bathed his wife as she suffered from dementia and decline. Reports of gunshots at Country Villa Healthcare Center came at about noon, and within a few minutes officers arrived from the California Highway Patrol, Orange County Sheriff's Department and three local police departments, Seal Beach police Sgt. Steve Bowles said. A tactical team surrounded the facility and soon entered. Inside they found Clara Laird dead of a single gunshot wound to the head, and found her husband Roy Charles Laird, 88, in a nearby chair, Bowles said. More U.S. news Guilty verdict in Chandra Levy murder case Updated 8 minutes ago 11/22/2010 11:05:59 PM +00:00 A jury on Monday found an El Salvadoran immigrant guilty of murdering Washington intern Chandra Levy. Full story Report: Capping BP spill was chaotic, creative White House evaluating TSA security methods Tell TSA 'Don't touch my junk' — here's how Updated 40 minutes ago 11/22/2010 10:33:08 PM +00:00 TSA workers face verbal abuse from travelers Officers recovered a .38 caliber revolver from the elderly man. “It was in his pocket,” Bowles said, and added Laird gave no trouble to officers who arrested him. Laird was being held at Seal Beach jail Sunday night. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40310189/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/?Gt1=43001 added by: littlwarrior
