70-Year-Old Man Arrested in Shooting Death of Wife

Long Beach police on Tuesday arrested a 70-year-old man suspected of fatally shooting his wife in the head.

At 10 a.m., an employee reporting for work at Wilton McLendon’s optical shop in the 1400 block of Santa Fe Avenue discovered a note tacked to the door that read, “Closed due to a death,” Police Det. Stephen Jones said. McLendon and his wife, Lois, 70, lived in an apartment over the shop.

“The same employee then met McLendon, who was babbling incoherently,” Jones said.

Another employee who also was concerned after talking to McLendon called 911, Jones said. Police arrived and discovered the body of his wife. “She had been shot more than once in the head,” Jones said.

McLendon, meanwhile, had driven away.

About 90 minutes later, Long Beach officers were notified by Signal Hill police that he had rear-ended another car.

“There was almost no damage to the other car,” said Signal Hill Sgt. Colleen Vincent. “But he showed signs of physical problems, so paramedics were called, and they took him to a local hospital.”

McLendon, who was arrested at the hospital, “has given us some statements about the crime,” Jones said.

He was denied bail and locked up, pending arraignment.