A man from Burbank has been charged with murder in connection with the death of his mother, a beloved teacher with the Burbank Unified School District.
According to Burbank Police, officers and paramedics responded to a home in the 800 block of North Avon Street around 10 p.m. Tuesday, where they found Karyn Lombardo, 57, unconscious.
“Life-saving measures were taken by officers and paramedics, but [Lombardo] was pronounced deceased at the scene,” police said in a statement.
Lombardo was a teacher at Bret Harte Elementary School, district officials confirmed. Police said she lived in the home with her adult son and husband.
Based on information and evidence collected at the home, police arrested and booked Kyle Lombardo, 25, for murder. Authorities say he killed his mother “during an altercation.”
“Her dedication, warmth, and passion for teaching touched many students and colleagues’ lives,” said John Paramo, superintendent of the Burbank Unified School District, in a statement. “Her profound impact and loss on this community will be deeply felt throughout the City of Burbank.”
Paramo said Lombardo began her career as a bilingual teacher at Joaquin Miller Elementary in 1990. Three years later, she transferred to Harte Elementary, where she had multiple teaching roles, including performing arts, choir, and kindergarten.
School psychologists and social service workers were on-site at Harte Elementary to offer counseling to students and staff.
“Over the course of her highly accomplished career, Ms. Lombardo touched the lives of thousands of students, parents, and colleagues, who will be mourning this loss in the days to come,” said Paramo.
Kyle Lombardo was being held in lieu of $2 million bail.
Anyone with information that could aid the ongoing investigation is asked to call Burbank Police Department detectives at 818-238-3210.