In the 1990’s, Los Angeles personal injury attorney Larry H Parker became locally famous for his pervasive TV ads with the tag line “I’m Larry H Parker, and I will fight for you!” If he could not settle cases prior to filing suit, he would refer the case to the Perona, Langer, Beck, Serbin, Mendoza and Harrison firm. Eventually the two firms moved in together at the same address, 300 E San Antonio Drive in Long Beach.

John A. Mendoza was a partner at the firm of Perona, Langer, Beck, Serbin, Mendoza and Harrison but was recently fired. The apparent disgruntled and estranged partner went to the offices Friday as staffers were wrapping up a holiday party.

When the Mendoza showed up he told lower-level employees to leave the building but kept his two victims inside – then opened fire.

Major A. Langer, 75, of Rolling Hills, and John A. Mendoza, 58, of Redondo Beach, were killed in the attack, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office confirmed Saturday.

Mendoza shot another senior partner, Ronald Beck, who ran the day-to-day operations at Perona, Langer, Beck, Serbin, Mendoza and Harrison. Mendoza then turned the gun on himself, according to sources. Beck was also managing partner of the Larry H. Parker law firm that worked with Perona and Langer.

Beck and Parker have appeared in well-known Southern California television commercials for Parker’s firm that conclude with Parker promising: “We’ll fight for you!”

Mendoza was a workers’ compensation attorney who had worked thousands of industrial injury cases over the past 20 years and had been a frequent guest on local television and radio stations.

The shooting occurred during a holiday party at the firm when others were present, creating a chaotic scene. Sources said Mendoza had either been fired that day, or had been fired earlier and had returned to the firm on Friday.

A friend of the victims, Jim Hall, said Friday of Langer: “This guy was the most caring, sincere man I probably ever met. He just had a heart of gold and really cared for everybody who works at the firm and considers them members of his family. He certainly didn’t deserve this.”

Beck’s son drove him to the hospital after the attack. His condition wasn’t immediately known on Saturday, but authorities on Friday said he was in stable condition.