UPDATE 3PM – NBC News is reporting that 60-year-old Lance Holger Anderson of Santa Clarita has been taken into custody in connection with what’s being called the “mercy killing” of his wife and sister.

Wednesday morning, Anderson allegedly walked into a Mission Hills nursing home where his sister was in a vegetative state. He reportedly shot her once in the head, then waited for LAPD officers to arrive.

Earlier in the day, Anderson reputedly shot and killed his wife in a Santa Clarita condominium complex. NBC reports that the unidentified woman was suffering from a degenerative disease.

According to the Los Angeles Times, residents said Anderson and his wife moved into the Canyon Country neighborhood five or six months ago.

“He was very dainty with (his ailing wife). You see him caressing her hand,” a neighbor told The Times, adding that the man introduced himself to everyone in the complex. “He was caressing her like she was a jewel. You could tell that’s how he treated her.”

The neighbor said Anderson gave her the family Christmas tree two weeks ago, saying, “We’re not having Christmas this year.”

[KHTS] – Sheriff’s Department homicide detectives are investigating a homicide on the 26800 block of Claudette Street, south of Soledad Canyon Road in central Santa Clarita.

LAPD detectives also are investigating a murder that is believed to be related.

“Deputies assigned to Canyon Country responded to (the Claudette Street condominium) regarding a ‘check the welfare’ call,” said Lt. Holly Francisco of the Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau. “Deputies went up to the location and made entry into the house and found a female, white, in her 60s with an apparent gunshot wound.”

Francisco released few details, saying she did not want to jeopardize an active investigation.

The victim was a 60-year-old woman, Francisco said.

The investigation is very preliminary, she added, but confirmed that the incident was not a suicide.

Two nearby residents claimed they heard two distinct “booms” Tuesday night, although Francisco said the victim had been shot once.

The identity of the victim and any possible suspects have not been released at this time.

“My husband and I were sitting in bed and I heard two loud booms about 30 seconds apart at about 10:30 p.m. last night,” Kristen Booker, a neighbor of the victim said. “We thought it was fireworks because that is what started the fire recently.”

Screenshot from YouTube video of the fire at the neighbor’s address in September.

On September 30 there was a fire in Booker’s unit that was believed to be started by fireworks, she said.

The couple that lived in the victim’s unit were described as a white middle-aged husband and wife, who were very sweet people and very friendly according to Booker.

The couple moved in about five months ago, Booker said.

“This is the street where everything happens,” said Brittany Hutchinson a nearby resident, alluding to the fire and the shooting.

“I am pretty afraid,” Booker said. “I am ready to move.”

All inquiries are being refferred to the Sheriff’s department headquarters bureau.

We have unconfirmed reports that a story being reported by NBC News is a related incident.

Click map to enlarge

From NBC News

A man was arrested Wednesday morning after allegedly carrying out what appeared to be the mercy killing of his sister at a Mission Hills nursing home, police said. Detectives said the man’s wife was also found shot to death in their home.

The shooting happened about 9:20 a.m. at Country Villa Sheraton Nursing Center at 9655 Sepulveda Blvd., LAPD Mission officials said.

The victim at the nursing home, identified as 58-year-old Lisa Nave, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said the gunman walked into the convalescent home as a visitor and shot his sister, who had been in a vegetative state for five years.

According to police, the gunman shot his sister, then walked out to a patio and waited for officers to arrive.

Detectives said police received a call from family members who were concerned about the gunman’s wife.

When Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies made a welfare check, they found the woman shot to death.

Press Release from LASD

Classification: Shooting Death Investigation

Homicide Bureau Investigator: Lieutenant Francisco

Date/Time: December 11, 2013 / 10:00 AM

Location: 26800 block of Claudette Street, Canyon Country

Victim: Female adult

Sheriff’s Homicide Detectives are en route to the 26800 block of Claudette Street, Canyon Country, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting death of a woman.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

There is no further information.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.