Man, angry about care, shoots nurse at convalescent home

PERRIS, Calif. - An 87-year-old man visiting a family member at a convalescent home allegedly shot a female nurse Friday after he became angry about the care the relative was receiving, authorities said.

Authorities arrested Norman Larson of Sun City around 1:20 p.m. for investigation of assault with a deadly weapon, minutes after the shooting at the Ember Care Health Center in Perris, Riverside County sheriff's spokesman Dennis Gutierrez said.

When deputies arrived, employees inside the center had detained Larson.

"He had been there for about five hours," Gutierrez said. "He had an issue with the way the family member was being cared for."

The nurse was shot at close range and was taken to a nearby hospital where she was listed in critical condition, he said.

A woman visiting the center said Larson threatened to shot another nurse.

"He was going to shoot another nurse and made her get on her knees and beg for her life," Dalis Baca told KABC-TV. "When she pleaded, she said it was Christmas, she had kids, please not to do it, and he let her go."

Citing privacy laws, Gutierrez did not identify the family member.