Kevin Crane, a luxury realtor who filled his social media pages with photos of million-dollar mansions and Dom Perignon champagne and brokered a house for rapper Big Sean, was identified as the man accused of shooting his ex-wife to death in a stationary store in a busy Thousand Oaks, California shopping mall.
Judging from his social media, Crane, 33, appeared to be living a lavish and successful life, but that all took a terrible turn when the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department released Crane’s name as the suspected mall shooter. Authorities also released the name of the victim in a press release on March 18, 2018, the day after the shooting sent terrified shoppers scrambling for exits. The victim was identified as Parisa Siddiqi, 29, of Thousand Oaks, California, Crane’s ex-wife. The shooting occurred at Oaks Mall in the California community not far from Los Angeles.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Crane & Siddiqi Were Divorced With Two Children
Crane is the ex-husband of the victim, authorities say. “Siddiqi was shot and killed Saturday afternoon by her ex-husband while she was working at a retail store inside the mall,” the sheriff’s press release says.
The shooting occurred at the Oaks Mall, 190 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks on March 17, 2018 at 2:17 p.m. Earlier, the sheriff’s public information officer labeled the shooting a domestic violence incident. “Shooting at Oaks Mall appears to be case of domestic violence. The man entered the store and shot his ex-wife, then shot himself. Investigation is ongoing. The woman, who died at the scene is a 30-yr-old TO resident. The man is a 33-yr-old LA area resident,” he wrote on Twitter.
The couple had two children, according to The Thousand Oaks Acorn, which said the children, small boys who, like their father, have names starting with “K,” are staying with relatives.
Photos posted on Siddiqi’s Facebook page show her with two small children. A photo showing Siddiqi and Crane with the two children was uploaded to her page in December 2017 without comment. Ventura County divorce records say that Siddiqi filed for divorce from Crane in 2016. On February 6, 2017, a court entry reads, “REQUEST FOR DEFAULT FILED AND DEFAULT ENTERED ON PETITION OF SIDDIQI AS TO KEVIN CRANE.” The marriage was formally declared dissolved the next day. In March 2017, custody orders were filed for the two young boys. The last entry in the divorce came in July 2017. It was for a status conference.
According to VC Star, “Crane was allowed a two-hour supervised visit with his children once a week.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the two children. It reads, referring to the stationery store where Parisa worked, “Our Paper Source family would like to honor the memory of our colleague, Parisa Siddiqi, who was a warm and loving mother, daughter and friend, and a wonderful co-worker who brought her creativity to work every day. Parisa touched the lives of many in our Southern California stores because she always led with her heart and her joy was contagious.”
The page continues, “We have spent time with Parisa’s family and she leaves behind two young sons, ages 3 and 4. In memory of Parisa and her unfailing devotion to her children, we have started this Go Fund Me campaign with a goal of raising $100,000 dedicated to her boys. We encourage everyone in to contribute what they can, however large or small, in loving memory of Parisa Siddiqi. There is a saying that goes, ‘I have heard that grief is another name for love.’ We are heartbroken over the loss of our beloved team member who meant so much to all of us.”
2. Crane, a Luxury Realtor, Marketed Upscale Beverly Hills Real Estate to Celebrities Like Big Sean & the Very Wealthy
FacebookParisa Siddiqi with her two children.
Kevin Crane’s LinkedIn page says that he was a realtor based in Beverly Hills, California. He attended College of the Canyons in Business Administration and Management. His Facebook and Instagram pages are filled with pictures of exotic, luxury homes worth millions of dollars. He had worked as a broker at Pacific Union.
According to Real Deal, “Crane represented rapper Big Sean on his $8.7 million purchase of the former home of Guns ‘N Roses guitarist Slash. ”
In one real estate profile, he wrote, “I’m Kevin Crane, a full time residential Luxury Real Estate Specialist. I service the Los Angeles and San Fernando Valley areas.” He also claimed to have appeared in “Little Giants.”
“I understand what it means to own real estate in Los Angeles and the unique opportunity it creates for home owners. Buying and selling a home is a very intricate process. My experience and resources allow me to position my clients to get the best deal when purchasing and the highest price when selling. I take pride in negotiating and looking after my client’s best interest. It’s very important to have a trusted and seasoned professional working with you to navigate the world of real estate.”
Another realtor’s profile for Crane says that he was “born and raised in Southern California” and “Kevin took his extensive experience in sales/client services and converted it into a career in real estate…Kevin credits his diverse and humble upbringing for preparing him to do business with many clients from various countries across the world.”
The profile adds that “Kevin has an extensive network of clients in the entertainment and artist management industries. He’s worked with celebrities, athletes and business executives. Kevin continues to service his niche while advancing his real estate career. As a muti-million dollar seller, Kevin brings lots of experience and knowledge working with musicians and actors.”
He is a licensed realtor with no disciplinary actions, according to California licensing records. Some of his Instagram comments include things like, “Feeling like a Fortune Teller?” and “??LA Vibes??” and “Looks like we have another closing today. All cash and closed in less than a few weeks. Just in time for my clients to move in before Christmas ?.” His photos show extremely high-end properties that went for many millions of dollars. He did not mention his family on his publicly available social media.
3. Crane, Who Claimed to Be a Child Actor, Once Declared Bankruptcy
Parisa Siddiqi with one of her children.
Crane’s father, who had liked a photo on Kevin Crane’s real estate Facebook page, wrote on his own social media account: “Prayers needed and Appreciated…my Son is in ICU Gunshot wound to the head…Thank you in advance!!!” The dad also wrote, “The Devil has tried to Break me on every end…But the Devil will not win, because I will not Break…Im Armored Up!!!”
RadarOnline was among the sites reporting that Crane had a child acting background. “Crane, who acted in Disney and Warner Bros. projects and was best known for his role in the 1994 football movie Little Giants,” reported the website.
That self-proclaimed account came from Crane’s work bio, which read, “Born and raised in Los Angeles. Attended school in the San Fernando Valley. College athlete and studied Business administration. Was a child actor working with Disney and Warner brothers. Worked in fashion design/styling and artist management for years before making the transition to real estate.”
Federal court records show that Crane declared bankruptcy in 2012. Parisa is not listed in those court records. They list a series of debts for Crane. His liabilities were estimated at between $50,000 and $100,000. His assets were far less. Crane reported monthly income of just over $3,000 at the time. Contrary to the lavish lifestyle he showcased on social media in later years, his assets were meager, including a microwave and bedroom furniture, the court records showed. Crane’s liabilities included credit card debt, unpaid medical bills, and a cell phone bill. At the time, he was a sales associate at a department store, the document said, and was single.
Siddiqi was working at the Paper Source, a stationery store inside the mall, according to The Thousand Oaks Acorn, which said that the woman “was shot multiple times.”
Authorities initially said that Crane was from Los Angeles, but it turned out that an address in Beverly Hills was used to drop mail, The Acorn reported.
All of mall reopened today except Paper Source, site of yesterday’s tragedy. A note on front door reads “All of us at Paper Source are saddened by the loss of our beloved colleague and team member. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, and most of all her two children…”
“All of us at Paper Source are sadden(ed) by the loss (of) our beloved colleague and team member,” read a note posted at the store the day after the shooting. “Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, and most of all her two children, through this difficult time.”
Shooting at Oaks Mall appears to be case of domestic violence. The man entered the store and shot his ex-wife, then shot himself. Investigation is ongoing. The woman, who died at the scene is a 30-yr-old TO resident. The man is a 33-yr-old LA area resident.
When gunfire broke out in the mall, terrified shoppers feared there was an active shooter on the loose. Authorities quickly informed the public, though, that the situation had been contained, although not before the victim lay dead. “TOaks Police are on the scene of a shooting at the Oaks Mall. The situation is contained and there is no threat to the public,” Sheriff’s officials wrote on Twitter early on.
Great photos from @Bobby_AcornNews. Family is everything in the Conejo Valley. Today’s event left many of them shaken. Let’s all give the kiddos an extra tight squeeze tonight.
Reporter Kyle Jorrey, writing on Twitter, reported that the police chief “says he’s already heard several stories of Oaks mall employees who took ‘valiant action,’ helping shoppers evacuate or offering them safe areas of refuge. He says @toaksvcso is available to offer counseling resources to any who need it.”
Jeffrey Simpson, 17, told The Associated Press that he was shopping with his mother at a department store “when an announcement came over the intercom about a threat outside the mall.”
“I went to Nordstrom to get pants, and the next thing I know, the doors are being sealed,” Simpson said, according to AP. Autumn Montano, 19, a college student, told Thousand Oaks Acorn: “All of a sudden we heard people screaming. We saw everyone running toward the food court so I just freaked out.”
4. The Suspect Tried to Commit Suicide but Failed & Parisa Recanted a Previous Case of Domestic Violence
A photo on the Facebook page of Parisa Siddiqi.
After he allegedly shot his ex-wife, Kevin Crane is accused of turning the gun on himself. However, his attempt failed, although he was initially reported to be in “grave condition” at a local hospital. “The suspect, who has been identified as Kevin Crane, also of Thousand Oaks, turned the gun on himself after he shot Siddiqi. Crane survived his suicide attempt and is being treated at a local hospital, where he remains in critical condition,” the Sheriff’s Department reported.
According to the Ventura County Star, the police did have a prior report of domestic violence in the marriage, but Parisa recanted it before the case could go to trial. “Kevin Crane was arrested in connection with felony domestic battery on Sept. 13, 2014,” the newspaper reported, “because his fiancé had called the police and accused him of attacking her.”
The day of the shooting, the department wrote, “Shooting at Oaks Mall, one female victim dead at scene, one male victim transported to local hospital in grave condition. Gun was recovered at the scene.”
Video sent in by reader showing EMTs rushing shooter from the mall after he allegedly shot his ex-wife then turned gun on himself #oaksshooting
Crane had no criminal history, and authorities couldn’t find any restraining orders between the two. Authorities allege that he walked directly into the stationary store and shot his ex-wife after an argument ensued, according to VC Star.
Parisa Siddiqi had recently filed for a restraining order in Ventura County, but it wasn’t against Crane.
5. Friends Remembered Parisa’s Beautiful Smile
Another family tragedy.
Police have identified the woman shot dead at Thousand Oaks Mall as 29-year-old Parisa Siddiqi.
Shooter, police say, was her ex-husband Kevin Crane who then shot himself in the head.
He survived.
They have two small boys.
t.co/1ErtKSqWCr
Grieving friends wrote tributes to Parisa on Facebook. “Rest in Peace Parisa Siddiqi! We have known each other for a long time and I will never forget your beautiful smile and your contagious laugh! You were taken way to early and my heart goes out to your family and your beautiful boys in this time ????,” wrote one friend. Parisa graduated from Thousand Oaks High School.
She added, “When I heard it was in the paperstore at the mall i freaked out and jumped on Facebook hoping it was NOT her because we had just talked not to long before and there it was ?”
Another woman wrote on Facebook, “Mom! (As I would call you) I will forever miss you! This is so surreal. I was just talking to you this morning and I didn’t even get to say goodbye when I was inside Paper Source this morning. Parisa i will forever miss you and our happy times outside and inside of work. Your beautiful soul and face are now in heaven, looking out after your adorable babies aka my bros (as you would say). Rest In Peace my beloved friend! You truly were a great person, co worker and overall a best friend. You leave Hannah and I and your entire Paper Source family with a very broken heart.”
This post will be updated as more information is learned about Kevin Crane’s background.