ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) — A friend of a Maryland man charged with killing his estranged wife and two other people said he saw the couple as recently as three weeks ago and was not aware they had any troubles.
Gary Cochran of Sterling, Virginia, said in a telephone interview Sunday evening that Eulalio Tordil of Adelphi was "always smiling and very polite," and he was stunned that the federal police officer is accused of a two-day shooting spree in suburban Maryland parking lots.
Along with the three fatalities, three other people were wounded in the shootings.
"He was a very quiet person, very soft-spoken," Cochran said of Tordil, who attended high school with his wife. "We're shocked because we can't imagine this is the person we invited into our home."
Tordil, 62, is scheduled to make an initial court appearance Monday in Rockville, a suburb near the nation's capital. He faces charges including first-degree murder.
Police said the shootings began Thursday when Tordil fatally shot Gladys Tordil, a chemistry teacher, in a high-school parking lot. A bystander was wounded.
The shootings continued Friday at two different mall parking lots. At the first, authorities said, one man was killed and his friend was wounded while coming to the aid of a woman, who also was wounded. At the second, a woman was shot and killed in her car.
Police said late Saturday that the shootings on Friday were likely botched carjackings. They also identified those who died from Friday's shootings: Malcom Winffel, 45, of Boyds, was shot and killed at the first crime scene Friday. Claudina Molina, 65, of Silver Spring, died at the final crime scene.
Molina's daughter established a GoFundMe page online to raise money for funeral expenses.
"She was an active member of church, she was the sweetest mother, was always laughing and joking and could find the positive in everything," the daughter wrote.
At a news conference Saturday night, Montgomery County Assistant Police Chief Russ Hamill said Winffel and his friend, who was not identified, were coming to the carjacking victim's aid when they were shot.
"Those two men acted selflessly and heroically, most likely saving her life," Hamill said.
Hamill also said Winffel's friend, who was described Friday as being in grave condition, is "making progress. We remain hopeful he'll survive."
Hundreds of people attended a vigil remembering Winffel on Saturday evening at Clarksburg High School, where his two children are enrolled. A gofundme page set up to help the family with funeral expenses and the kids' college expenses had received nearly $30,000 in donations as of Saturday evening.
At Saturday's news conference, Hamill said Tordil spoke to investigators a little about the shootings. "I would not describe him as being remorseful," Hamill said.
Hamill said a search of Tordil's car uncovered a .40-caliber Glock handgun that was used in Friday's shootings. Hamill said police believe it also was used in Thursday's shooting of Gladys Tordil but that more testing is needed to confirm.
Hamill said Saturday that Tordil appeared to have purchased the Glock after being subject to the protective order.
Tordil, a federal security officer employed by the Federal Protective Service, was put on administrative duties in March after a protective order was issued against him when his wife said he had threatened to harm her if she left him, The Washington Post reported (http://wapo.st/1WOrwyg). Tordil subjected their children to "intense-military-like discipline," such as pushups and detention in a dark closet, according to the order.
The protective service said Tordil's weapon, badge and credentials were taken when he was placed on leave.
Cochran said he had no idea about the protective order, and never suspected any problems in the Tordil family.
"I just saw a beautiful family," he said, adding that Tordil never mentioned the disciplinary action taken against him at work.
The charges against Tordil carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. Maryland abolished the death penalty in 2013.
