Harrisburg, PA: Harrisburg man charged with homicide in shooting death of his girlfriend

Published: Thursday, December 23, 2010, 5:41 PM Updated: Thursday, December 23, 2010, 7:06 PM
By The Patriot-News

Harrisburg police said Miguel Figueroa-Novoa, 23, has been charged with criminal homicide, criminal attempt at homicide and carrying a firearm without a license in the shootings of his girlfriend and her mother this morning. His girlfriend, Yarelis "Nicole" Berrios, 19, was killed and her mother, Lithz Serrano, 44, was injured.
Dauphin County District Attorney Edward M. Marsico Jr. and Deputy District Attorney John C. Baer consulted on the charges, Harrisburg police said.
Police said Figueroa-Novoa shot Berrios and Serrano about 6 this morning in an Ivey Lane apartment the three shared, along with Berrios and Figueroa-Novoa's toddler son. Police said the couple had been having relationship problems.
Serrano's 9-year-old granddaughter, who had been spending the night, witnessed the shooting, escaped to a neighbor's home and called 911. Neither she nor the little boy were hurt.
Berrios suffered gunshot wounds to the torso, police said. Serrano is in critical condition at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center after surgery. Figeuroa-Novoa is also hospitalized in critical condition with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the face, police said.

DAN GLEITER, The Patriot-News/file
The investigation continues, and anyone with information may contact Harrisburg police Det. Matthew Taylor at 717-255-3187 or mtaylor@cityofhbg.com or Sgt. Dennis Sorensen at 717-255-6586 or dsorensen@cityofhbg.com.