Leteve family - happier times
Asher, 1
Alec, 5
Scottsdale police: Father who killed sons was divorcing
A Scottsdale Realtor who police say shot and killed his two sons before turning the gun on himself was embroiled in a divorce proceeding with his estranged wife, police said.
Andre M. Leteve, 39, called 911 about 8 a.m. Wednesday and told authorities that he just shot his son, police said.
Officers forced their way into the home near Scottsdale and Indian Bend roads to find Leteve's sons shot dead, Scottsdale police spokesman Officer Dave Pubins said.
Court records in the divorce case identify the children as Alec M. Leteve, 5, and Asher S. Leteve, 1. The records indicate Leteve was worried the boys' mother was going to move from Arizona to Florida with the boys.
"It's devastating. It's a tragedy, anybody with children would feel the same way," Pubins said.
Leteve "was distraught over a pending divorce from his estranged wife," Pubins confirmed.
Leteve attempted suicide by shooting himself in the head, Pubins said. He was transported to Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Medical Center. He is expected to survive.
Leteve's estranged wife, Laurie Beth Leteve, 40, was not at the home at the time of the shootings, Pubins said. The woman lives elsewhere in Scottsdale, according to court records in the divorce proceedings.
The house where the shooting occurred, in the 7600 block of East Cactus Wren Road, is in an upscale gated community.
"A situation like this doesn't know any boundaries," Pubins said.
Andre Leteve owns the home, according to Maricopa County Assessor's records. It was purchased in 2007 for almost $1.2 million, records show. Leteve also listed as a member of the Scottsdale Area Association of Realtors, according to the group's Web site.
Berniece Rosoff, who lives across the street from Leteve, described him as a devoted father. The families would wave to each other coming and going.
"We're a lot older than they are," she said. "It's a real tragedy for everyone, him and certainly the wife."
According to Maricopa County Superior Court documents, Laurie Beth Leteve filed for divorce on Oct. 20. Laurie Beth Leteve was seeking shared custody of the two boys. Andre Leteve was served with divorce papers on Nov. 9.
Later that month, Andre Leteve filed an emergency petition for child custody. He wrote that his wife was trying to relocate to Florida.
On Wednesday, yellow roses in a glass vase with a card, were left at the Scottsdale house listed as Leteve's address in court documents. A blue and red tricycle and a blue plastic ball sat outside under a tree in the yard.
The shooting was the latest of several recent family shootings involving children in the Valley.
A similar case happened last year in Scottsdale. In August, businessman Russell Gilman gunned down his two sons and wife before taking his own life. In his suicide note, Gilman wrote the family was out of money and he was certain they couldn't survive without him.
In September, Mesa resident, Philip Mullaly, returned home after a late night shift to find his wife Susan and sons Ryan, 15 and Nick, 12, shot dead by Susan in a murder-suicide. Mesa police said at the time the couple had experienced marital problems.
http://www.azcentral.com/community/s...#ixzz1ACSNg6i8
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