'Beloved' Burbank teacher killed by 25-year-old son during altercation, police say

A 25-year-old Burbank, California man was charged Tuesday for killing his mother, "a beloved teacher in the Burbank community," the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said.

Kyle Lombardo killed his mother, 57-year-old Karyn Lombardo, on Tuesday during an altercation in her Burbank home, LA County DA George Gascón announced Thursday in a news release.

“My deepest condolences go out to the victim’s loved ones during this tremendously difficult time,” Gascón said in the release. “Ms. Lombardo... had her life senselessly taken. I want to assure the victim’s family and the community that our office is fully committed to seeking justice and accountability in this tragedy.”

Karyn Lombardo died from blunt force head trauma and a brain bleed, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner said.

Lombardo is being held on $2 million bail, according to Gascón's office. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in state prison, the DA's office said.

Burbank police arrest Kyle Lombardo

Officers from the Burbank police department, which is investigating the case, responded to the Lombardo household around 10 p.m. Tuesday after receiving a report "regarding an unconscious female," the department said in a news release. When officers arrived, they found Karyn Lombardo unconscious inside the home, police said. She was pronounced dead after life-saving measures were unsuccessful.

Karyn Lombardo lived in the home with her husband and son, Kyle Lombardo, according to police. Kyle Lombardo was subsequently arrested and booked for murder "based on information obtained and evidence at the scene revealing he caused (Karyn Lombardo's) death," the department said.

Vince Lombardo, the deceased teacher’s husband, told KTLA-TV their son suffered from a "mental condition" and that police had to be called to their home in the past.

“It’s a reactionary system and that’s basically what I was told,” Vince Lombardo said of his son. “Until something happens, you can’t do anything. There’s not enough help to help these people, especially when they become adults... (Karyn Lombardo) loved him more than anything and tried to help him.”

Karyn Lombardo taught in Burbank for 30 years

Karyn Lombardo worked at Bret Harte Elementary School in Burbank for 30 years before her death, John Paramo, superintendent of the Burbank Unified School District, said in a statement emailed to USA TODAY.

Before transferring to Bret Harte Elementary in 1993, Paramo said that Karyn Lombardo began her career in the Burbank Unified School District as a bilingual teacher at Joaquin Miller Elementary in 1990. When employed at Bret Harte Elementary, she taught performing arts chorus, intervention and kindergarten, according to the statement.

"Ms. Lombardo touched the lives of thousands of students, parents, and colleagues, who will be mourning this loss in the days to come," Paramo's statement continued. "Her dedication, warmth and passion for teaching touched many students' and colleagues' lives. Her profound impact and loss on this community will be deeply felt throughout the City of Burbank.”

All of Karyn Lombardo's students 'love her'

Vince Lombardo told KTLA-TV that "all (Karyn Lombardo's) students love her."

"Coming through the system here, there were students who became teachers because of her," Vince Lombardo said. "She’s a very magnificent person and I think if you ask anybody, I think she’s too kind and that she loves to a fault.”

Zoe Bautista, one of Karyn Lombardo's former students, also spoke to KTLA-TV about the Burbank teacher.

“She would always tell us that if we were down, just to love ourselves and to talk to our parents about it,” Bautista said. “She would make us feel like we were the luckiest kids in the world.”