JEALOUSY MAY HAVE DRIVEN LAPD OFFICER TO KILL MAN.

Byline: Orith Goldberg Staff Writer

SIMI VALLEY - Keith Thomas Ewing's father stood outside his son's home Monday packing a white pickup truck. Standing next to candles and flowers on his son's driveway, where a vigil had been held Sunday night, he said there was nothing to say because what was done was done.

``It's over,'' he said, and quietly tended to his work.

Ewing's son was shot and killed Saturday as he watered his lawn in the 1800 block of Sutter Avenue. His assailant, off-duty Los Angeles police Officer Geno Patrick Colello, then shot and killed himself.

Police said the motive appeared to be that Colello's ex-girlfriend moved in with Ewing a few weeks prior.

Neighbor Brian Sandhovel, 26, described the 34-year-old Ewing as a nice, quiet guy who was an ideal neighbor. A neighbor for four years, Sandhovel had said hello to Ewing just minutes before Colello pulled up and opened fire.

Next door preparing for his brother's wedding, Sandhovel heard what he thought sounded like firecrackers and ran out to find Ewing prone, shot in the head.

``He looked like he was in the process of turning around to run into the house,'' said Sandhovel, who ran out in a tuxedo and yelled to his wife to call 911.

He saw Colello slumped in the running pickup, a gun still in his lap.

``It's a very, very unfortunate incident,'' said LAPD Lt. Horace Frank. ``Whenever someone, anyone, loses a life like that it's very tragic. Certainly, our condolences go out to the victim and (Geno Colello). ... I don't think anyone wins in a situation like that.''

Police Protective League President Mitzi Grasso called it a tragedy ``all the way around.''

``I feel so bad for both of the families,'' she said. ``Our thoughts and prayers are with both families.''

Colello, 35, was a 7 1/2-year LAPD veteran assigned to the Rampart Division's community relations department.

Former Foothill Cmdr. Tim McBride, who sat on a Board of Rights hearing involving Geno Colello, said Monday that Colello seemed like he had a lot of energy and seemed like a very dedicated officer. Colello's father is a retired LAPD officer.

``I just think it's a horrendous thing,'' McBride said. ``The permanence of this is horrendous.''

The Ventura County Coroner's Office determined that Ewing was killed by multiple gunshots. Colello died of a gunshot to the head.

In his LAPD career, Colello was involved in a couple of harrowing experiences.

In September 1995, a fleeing suspect rammed Colello's patrol car, leaving him hospitalized with severe neck and back injuries. Just three weeks after returning to duty, Colello shot and killed convicted killer William Thomas Betzner. Betzner, 43, drove off with Colello caught in the car, taunting the officer. Colello shot him and was injured in the crash. The Los Angeles Police Commission determined that the shooting fell within the department's policy.

Funeral services for Ewing were pending at Gobel-Miller Mortuary in Tulare, Calif., a mortuary spokesperson said. A visitation, vigil and a Mass for Colello are planned for later this week.