Father fatally shoots his son

Deirdre Newman

A 43-year-old man who allegedly terrorized his parents and had

violent run-ins with the police was fatally shot Friday morning by

his father, who then shot himself.

Norman Hansen, 70, allegedly shot his son David Hansen to death

and then turned the gun on himself in the Mesa North house all three

shared.

David Hansen was described as a “hellion” by neighbors. He has a

lengthy police record over the past 20 years and has been arrested

several times, said Lt. John FitzPatrick of the Costa Mesa Police

Department.

“Every time I’ve arrested David, I’ve gotten into a fight with him

and so have scores of other officers,” FitzPatrick said.

The Hansens’ house is in a well-established, middle-class

neighborhood, where many families have lived for 40 years, according

to a neighbor. It has a cozy feel to it with a vibrant garden in

front of the house, a flagpole in the driveway and a welcome sign

hanging from a stand on the grass.

The homey atmosphere belied the frightening situation inside, said

a neighbor.

“[David] ran the family,” said the neighbor, who did not want to

give his name.

The shots were fired around 7 a.m., FitzPatrick said. Norman’s

wife, Mary, was reportedly sitting in the backyard drinking coffee

when she heard the first shot from inside. She went inside and saw

her husband standing in the hallway. He told her there was nothing to

worry about.

As she was walking back outside, she heard another shot, went back

into the house and saw her husband in the hallway bleeding from the

head, FitzPatrick added. She then saw her son lying in a pool of

blood at the other end of the hallway.

Norman Hansen was taken to Western Medical Center, where he is in

serious condition, FitzPatrick said.

David was about 6 feet 4 and on the thin side, one of the

neighbors said. His father was about 6 feet tall and also thin, the

neighbor added.

At the time of his death, David Hansen was on probation, wearing

an ankle bracelet, and had assault and DUI trials pending,

FitzPatrick said.

The Hansens have three other children, according to a neighbor,

who like others who lived by the family did not want to be

identified.

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at deirdre.newman@latimes.com