The son of a prominent radiologist from Southern California is believed to have been behind a tragic double shooting that claimed the lives of his father and stepmother this past weekend, as reported by authorities.
According to Simi Valley police, officers were dispatched shortly after noon on November 30 following several 911 calls reporting gunfire in the area.
Upon arrival, officers discovered Dr. Eric Cordes, 63, and his wife, Vicki Cordes, 66, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in their home’s open garage. They were swiftly transported to a trauma center but sadly succumbed to their injuries.
Investigators revealed that the assailant approached the open garage, discharged a firearm, and then fled the scene in a black sedan with out-of-state license plates. The vehicle was subsequently identified as belonging to the couple’s 37-year-old son, Keith Cordes, who resides in Kentucky.
The investigation into the deaths of Eric and Vicki Cordes, found shot in their driveway on Sunday, is ongoing in Simi Valley. (Source: FOX 11 Los Angeles)
Neighbors speaking to the New York Post described seeing a man fitting the suspect’s description lingering near the residence earlier that day.
One neighbor said he heard gunshots just after noon and believed the suspect appeared to “lie in wait” before opening fire, suggesting the attack may have been premeditated rather than random.
Police confirmed to Fox News Digital that neighbors have reached out to share what they heard and saw that day. Authorities emphasized that these accounts have not yet been confirmed, and detectives are continuing to review witness statements, physical evidence and surveillance footage.
Witnesses told FOX 11 the suspect opened fire quickly before speeding away from the Cordes residence. (FOX 11 Los Angeles)
Using license plate cameras and other investigative tools, detectives tracked Keith’s vehicle after it left the area. Police said the car was later discovered burned in another city, and a man was found nearby with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Severe burns initially prevented identification, but on Dec. 2, the San Bernardino County Medical Examiner confirmed the deceased man was Keith Cordes. Police believe the gun they recovered is the same one used to kill Eric and Vicki Cordes, though additional forensic testing is still underway.
Dr. Cordes had spent nearly 30 years as a board-certified radiologist with Adventist Health Simi Valley. In a statement shared with FOX 11, the hospital said it was “heartbroken by the tragic deaths of our longtime colleague, Dr. Eric Cordes, and his wife Vicki,” describing him as a compassionate and beloved physician.
Loved ones remember Vicki Corde as a “wonderful mother, daughter, sister and a devoted grandmother” who was murdered alongside her husband, allegedly at the hands of her stepson. (GoFundMe)
A GoFundMe created for the family described Vicki as “a wonderful mother, daughter, sister and a devoted grandmother whose love, joy, and presence brought light into every room she entered.” The family said she “adored her husband deeply” and that her loss has left them “heartbroken and forever changed.”
The investigation remains ongoing as detectives continue examining witness reports, surveillance data and pending forensic analysis. A motive has not yet been identified.
Fox News Digital reached out to Adventist Health Simi Valley for comment.
Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.
