Man kills three, two in T.O., before committing suicide
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com
A two-day killing spree that shocked two of the nation’s safest cities ended with gunshots Tuesday morning in Simi Valley.

HARD TO BELIEVE––The scene on Monday night at the corner of Montgomery Road and Pickwick Court in T.O. resembled something from an Alfred Hitchcock movie as media representatives gathered near the site of a double homicide. Another victim was left in critical condition at the same location but recovered. Many residents of T.O. found it hard to believe that a multiple murder would occur in one of America’s safest cities.The violence continued in Santa Rosa Valley, north of the city

Toby Whelchel, 38, killed three people and injured five others, including two children and a deputy, before shooting himself at the Simi Valley Wal-Mart, authorities said.

The incident began at about 4 p.m. on Memorial Day in Thousand Oaks when gunshots echoed in the 1700 block of Montgomery Road.

The gunman killed Steve Mazin, a 52-year-old attorney, and Janice Heyne, a 51-year-old Amgen employee, while they were in Mazin’s yard. Heyne and her husband, Timothy, were returning a boat they had borrowed from Mazin over the holiday weekend.

Timothy Heyne was also injured during the incident. He was initially in critical condition and rushed to Los Robles Medical Center.

Ventura County Superior Court records indicate that Mazin filed a restraining order against Whelchel in 2002. The court had found convincing evidence that there was a credible threat of violence that existed by Whelchel against Mazin.

News reports also said that Whelchel was dating and had a business relationship with Mazin’s ex-wife, but the sheriff’s department was unable to confirm those allegations at deadline.

Whelchel, a former Air Force captain, also had a criminal record in several states, including Indiana, Florida and California.

Following the shooting at Mazin’s home, the suspect allegedly drove to the Vons shopping center parking lot near Moorpark and Janss roads, where he hijacked a pickup.

Welchel eluded an overnight manhunt and reappeared at about 8 a.m. on the 11000 block of Rocky High Road in a gated Santa Rosa Valley neighborhood, where he stole a vehicle that belonged to a pool maintenance man working at the Nordella family home.

Authorities reported that during the carjacking, the suspect pistolwhipped Carole Nordella, 48, and two of her children, a girl, 14, and a boy, 10.

Although she didn’t survive the attack, Nordella managed to call her husband and authorities to report the assault. She was taken to Los Robles Medical Center, where she died from her wounds, authorities said.

The two children were also taken to the hospital. They both sustained head trauma and were treated for their injuries.

Nordella leaves behind three children and her husband, a physician who practices in the Santa Clarita Valley.

Dep. Scott Ramirez, 30, of the Moorpark Police Department was the first to respond to Nordella’s call. As he attempted to stop Whelchel, Ramirez was shot in the shoulder with a bullet that went through the back windshield of his squad car.

Ramirez is in stable condition at Los Robles Medical Center, said Moorpark Police Chief Richard Diaz. He sustained a “non-lifethreatening” gunshot wound to his left shoulder that exited out through his left upper arm, Diaz said.

The pool maintenance man at the Nordella home was also pistolwhipped and taken to Simi Valley Adventist Hospital. He was not seriously injured.

After the second attack in Santa Rosa Valley, Whelchel fled to the Wal-Mart on Cochran Street in Simi Valley, pursued by authorities. The suspect proceeded to the sporting goods department while deputies, Simi Valley police and California Highway Patrol officers surrounded the area.

The incident ended as violently as it started when Whelchel committed suicide with his gun after he terrorized employees at the store.

People ran for their lives as gunfire echoed behind them, according to news reports.

Peace officers didn’t know if Whelchel had a hostage. They eventually found Whelchel dead on the floor from a self-inflicted wound.

The unfolding of the tragic events is unlike anything Ventura County has seen in years, said Sheriff Bob Brooks at a Tuesday press conference.

The motive behind the crime spree is still unknown, he said.

“This is unexplained violence.” But Brooks added that the suspect had a violent background.

There didn’t seem to be any connection between Whelchel and the Santa Rosa family that was attacked on Tuesday. He apparently picked the house randomly because the pool cleaner’s vehicle was readily available.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those killed and with the survivors of this shocking crime,” said Thousand Oaks Mayor Claudia Bill-de la Peña.

Thousand Oaks is America’s safest city with more than 100,000 people. “But being safe doesn’t mean we’re immune to crime,” she said. “However, the excellent response by law enforcement proves that this city will continue to do its best to keep residents safe and to work toward remaining one of America’s safest cities.” “This tragedy shows that even in the safest of communities, we are not totally protected from the actions of a demented individual,” said Clint Harper, a Moorpark council member. “We are all thankful for the fast response of local law enforcement, which prevented this tragedy from escalating,” he said.

Regarding the condition of the children at the Nordella home, as of Wednesday afternoon the 10year-old boy was in stable and fair condition, and the 14-year-old girl was in stable and serious condition, according to Kris Caraway-Bowman, marketing director of Los Robles Medical Center. Ramirez is in fair and stable condition, and Tim Heyne, who was shot Monday, is listed in serious condition, she said.