Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Los Angeles, CA: Police: Man Drives Into House, Killing Girlfriend and Infant

Lisa Flam

(Nov. 2) -- A California man intentionally drove his truck into a home, killing his girlfriend and their 10-day-old daughter, police say.

Eduardo Villarreal, 21, drove his Cadillac Escalade pickup truck over a curb, through a chain-link fence and into the house in the Boyle Heights section of Los Angeles late Sunday night, according to news reports. His 19-year-old girlfriend, whose name was not released, was killed, and their daughter was pronounced dead later at a hospital, the Los Angeles Times reported.

"When we got here the truck was practically halfway inside the home," police officer Mike Lopez told KTLA.

The deaths occurred shortly after Villarreal argued with the baby's mother over custody of the girl, police said, according to The Associated Press. He ran down the street with the baby, but another family member got him to return her to the house, according to AP.

He said he was going to hurt himself and his daughter but "took off to get his mind right," police Detective Joe Rios told AP. He returned a short time later in the truck.

"He intentionally drove the vehicle into the house," Deputy Chief Kirk Albanese told AP.

Villarreal was arrested on suspicion of murder, police told the L.A. Times. He was in custody at a hospital, KTLA said.

Earlier Sunday, Villarreal had gone shopping with the family for baby formula and other items, AP said. He has no history of mental illness or previous police contact, AP said, and there was no sign he had been drinking.

Relatives told KTLA the couple had been dating for about 18 months.

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