Family 'Meant World' to Man Who Shot Daughters

Family was everything for Anthony Alvarez—and yet the 63-year-old man shot his two adult daughters on Memorial Day before taking his own life, say police. No motive has yet been revealed, but his son says the Vietnam veteran has "never been the same" since his wife of 42 years died last year. Shortly after that, daughter Jennifer Kimble and her family moved in with Alvarez to help him take care of his other daughter, Valerie Alvarez, who has spina bifida, KGPE reports. Kimble's three children—who were in the house when Alvarez shot his daughters, killing Kimble—"meant the world" to their grandfather, Alvarez's son tells the Fresno Bee.

The Bee digs into Alvarez's history: He was exposed to Agent Orange and got malaria during the war. A few years ago, he was diagnosed with PTSD. He worked factory jobs, but eventually stopped and went on disability due to the Agent Orange exposure. He had been prescribed drugs to deal with the stress of his wife's death, but his son wasn't sure if Alvarez had still been taking the medication. Kimble's husband says their three kids are "quiet; they're sitting there. You can tell by their eyes they are thinking." Valerie Alvarez remains in the hospital, and her brother expects her to live. (More Anthony Alvarez stories.)