5 of 6 family members were fatally shot before house fire in East Lansdowne, investigators say

Delaware County investigators have determined five of the six family members who perished in a shooting and subsequent house fire in East Lansdowne on Feb. 7 died from gunshot wounds. The youngest member of the family died from smoke inhalation.

District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer alleges 43-year-old Cahn Le got into an argument with his 13-year-old niece, retrieved a semi-automatic pistol, shot her and proceeded to shoot the rest of his brother’s family.

“As the police are called and coming on scene, he shoots them. He shoots two police officers and he tries to shoot other police officers. We extracted bullets from two Lansdowne police vehicles. He then sets the fire and takes his own life using the rifle,” Stollsteimer said at Wednesday morning’s press conference.

Le’s remains were recovered attached to his body, according to Stollsteimer. It was the only weapon recovered at the crime scene.

Stollsteimer said the findings from the Medical Examiner’s Office and county detectives reveal a devastating crime scene. Dental records were needed to identify the deceased children.

“This is an absolute unmitigated tragedy for everybody in this community,” Stollsteimer said.

Stollsteimer: ‘Everything that they had in this world was being destroyed’

Multiple Delaware County law enforcement agencies descended upon a home in East Lansdowne on Feb. 7 after receiving a 911 call that a child was shot. The grandparents, the sole survivors of the residence, told the 911 operator their son Cahn Le shot his niece.

Stollsteimer said as the call was being made, more gunfire could be heard inside the home. He said the grandparents were in shock.

“Everything that they had in this world was being destroyed,” Stollsteimer said. “And these are people, my understanding is they came from South Vietnam after the fall of the South Vietnamese government, so they came here as refugees to build a new life and they did so in a beautiful community. And in one fell swoop, for some unanswerable reason, everything that they held dear is now gone.”

The deceased family members include Xuong Le, 40, and his wife, Britni McLaughlin-Le, 37, as well as their three children, Nakayla, 17, Natayla, 13, and Xavier, 10.

“The only one who was not killed by gunfire was the young boy Xavier,” Stollsteimer said. “He died of smoke inhalation.”

According to Stollsteimer, Cahn Le turned his weapon to officers arriving on the scene, striking two. Neither officer was fatally wounded. Soon after, investigators believe Le set the building on fire.

Some questions over East Lansdowne tragedy remain unanswered

Delaware County law enforcement officials were only able to recover the remains of all six family members from the charred building debris days later following an extensive search.

Investigators are still unable to determine how the blaze spread so quickly.

“Whatever accelerant was used, the fire was so intense and burned so quickly we weren’t able to determine that,” Stollsteimer said.

Additionally, the motive behind the shooting will likely remain unanswered. The case will soon be closed.

“Whatever happened at that point, there are no witnesses alive to tell us and we can’t learn anything from the evidence that we have,” Stollsteimer said. “These bodies were charred and destroyed by the fire. So we don’t know what transpired except that unfortunately Cahn Le did take the lives of his family members and then took his own life.”

Because the lot the building once stood on is private property, it is unclear what will happen to the site.

Community organizes fundraiser for McLaughlin, Le families

A community fundraiser has been set up to assist both the McLaughlin and Le families with funeral expenses and support.

On March 9, the Borough of East Lansdowne will partner with the Red Cross and the school district to host a community healing event at East Lansdowne Elementary School from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

East Lansdowne Police Officer John Meehan is still recovering from his injuries. East Lansdowne Police Chief John Zimath said “he’s got a long road to recovery.” Lansdowne Police Chief Kenneth Rutherford said officer David Schiazza is “doing very well and he’s healing quickly.”

“We are still hurting and this healing process will take a very, very long time,” East Lansdowne Mayor Majovie Bland said.