Authorities have shared new information following the tragic shooting of a California doctor and his wife at their residence. The police suspect it was a deliberate attack and not a random act.
The heartbreaking incident in Simi Valley resulted in the deaths of Eric Cordes, aged 63, and his wife Vicky Cordes, aged 66. They were declared dead at the hospital after law enforcement officers found them in response to gunfire reports at their California home on Sunday (November 30).
Dr. Cordes was identified by his workplace, Adventist Health Simi Valley, shortly after the incident. The organization paid tribute to him, stating: “Dr. Cordes was a highly respected, board-certified radiologist and beloved physician who served this community with compassion and excellence for nearly 30 years.
“Our hearts are with his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of working alongside him as we grieve this shocking loss.”
This fatal incident led to an extensive manhunt for the shooter, who left the scene in a black sedan featuring out-of-state license plates, as reported by ABC 7. The car was later spotted using automatic license plate recognition technology traveling south on the 210 Freeway.
Investigators discovered that the vehicle was registered to Keith Cordes, Eric’s 37-year-old son and Vicky’s stepson.
The car was eventually found, thanks to collaboration among local police, with a burned-out black sedan discovered parked outside Ayala Park.
Inside the vehicle, authorities found a deceased person, later identified by the San Bernardino County Medical Examiner as Keith. It is believed that he set the car on fire before committing suicide by gunshot.
The weapon found in the vehicle is thought to be the same one used in the murders of Eric and Vicky, leading to Keith being identified as a suspect.
Neighbor Mike Hylton shared his thoughts on the 63-year-old radiologist and recounted the moment the gunfire shattered the peace of their neighborhood.
He said: “Eric was… a figure in the community with regards to being the director of radiology over at Adventist Health in Simi. He’s known by a lot of people, and it’s just really sad.
“I didn’t hear the gunshots. My son did. He was upstairs, and the window was open, so he heard the gunshots and looked out the window and saw the car speeding away.”
Another tribute came from Focus Medical Imaging, one of Dr. Cordes’ employers, praising his commitment to serving his community. “Dr. Eric Cordes was a brilliant, hardworking doctor, and a respected colleague,” their statement read.
“He served the Simi Valley community and surrounding areas throughout his entire career, never once leaving for other communities. Our entire group will be thinking and praying for him and his family today. He will surely be missed.”
The Simi Valley Police Department continues to probe the events that led to this tragic shooting.