Long Beach Man Found Dead in Car Hours After Threatening Wife with Gun

LONG BEACH, CA -- A man who allegedly threatened his estranged wife with a gun and was being sought by police was found dead several hours later Monday in the backseat of his car in Long Beach.

Francisco Parra-Garcia, 62, of Long Beach, was allegedly rummaging through his wife's vehicle while it was parked in the 300 block of Wilson Street about 8:20 a.m., Costa Mesa police Lt. Paul Beckman said.

When his estranged wife approached her vehicle, Parra-Garcia confronted her and an argument ensued, Beckman said. As the dispute escalated, Parra- Garcia pulled out a handgun, prompting his wife to defend herself with pepper spray, Beckman said.

At one point during the dispute, Parra-Garcia tried to fire the gun, but it failed to discharge, Beckman said.

About 12:30 p.m., Long Beach police, who were assisting Costa Mesa investigators in the search, found the suspect in his 1998 Mitsubishi Montero in the area of 10th Street and Bennett Avenue in Long Beach, Beckman said.

Parra-Garcia was in the rear passenger-side seat and was "non- responsive" as detectives tried to rouse him, Beckman said.

Police have not recovered the weapon and there were no obvious signs that he took his own life, Beckman said. The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office will determine the cause of death, he said.

-- City News Service, photo via Shutterstock