A 37-year-old pregnant woman was shot and killed in El Monte, and authorities searched Thursday for the woman's husband, who police believe is the killer.
The suspect was identified as 36-year-old Octavio Curiel-Martinez. He was last seen leaving the scene in a 2018 Red Toyota Tacoma truck with license plate 81718L2, according to Deputy Trina Schrader of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Curiel-Martinez is armed with a handgun and is considered dangerous.
He also is suspected in a shooting Wednesday night at a nearby house where his father was standing outside. No one was struck at that location and the father was not injured, said Homicide Lt. Joe Mendoza.
El Monte police officers responded later Wednesday night to an assault-with-a-deadly-weapon call in the 2700 block of Leafdale Avenue and discovered the woman inside the home, suffering from at least one gunshot wound, according to Deputy Schrader. The victim was transported to a hospital, but she and her unborn child could not be saved, Schrader said.
The victim was identified as Ana Maria Nunez.
She and Curiel-Martinez had been together for several years, neighbors said. There were four children in the household, but none was home Wednesday night. Another relative made the discovery, authorities said.
Some neighbors said they had seen indications of previous domestic violence in the household, and recalled having seen law enforcement respond to the house.
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"From what I know, he's been acting very violent with her," said neighbor Cristina Ferrel. She said her son returned from a playdate at the house with an account of the mother having been struck with a belt, and afterwards, being told to go to the backyard to play.
