Police Protect Family of Slain Reseda Woman

Members of the Van Nuys family of a woman who was slain on Christmas Eve were under police protection Tuesday after the slaying suspect--the victim’s former boyfriend--was seen near their home with a gun and threatened to kill them in repeated phone calls, authorities said.

Ruben Dario Garcia, 20, of North Hollywood, has been sought since 11 p.m. Sunday when Anna Alfaro, 22, was found shot to death in the 7100 block of Hazeltine Avenue, about one block from her family’s home, Los Angeles police said.

On Christmas night Garcia was spotted near the home carrying a handgun and was chased away by family members and acquaintances, police said.

That night, he also allegedly began a series of threatening calls to the family home, investigators said.

“We’re just . . . kind of afraid,” said Ernest Alfaro, 24, the victim’s brother. “Either the police are going to get him or he is going to get us.”

Police said some members of the victim’s family were under protection, but they declined to detail what precautions had been taken.

“He threatened to kill them,” Officer Bill Frio said of Garcia. “Our detectives . . . believe that if he was given the chance he would try to carry through with the threats.”

Anna Alfaro, a secretary who lived in Reseda, was abducted at gunpoint near her parents’ home after dropping off Christmas presents for her family, Lt. Dennis Dunn said. Garcia allegedly dragged Alfaro to the rear of an apartment building a block away and shot her in the head, Dunn said.

Investigators and family believe the shooting was motivated by jealousy. Garcia, who is 5 feet, 7 inches, 140 pounds with dark hair that he wears in a ponytail, was angry over the breakup of his relationship with Alfaro and her dating of another man, police said.

Alfaro, who was born in El Salvador, and Garcia broke up about two months ago after he beat her at the family home, Ernest Alfaro said. Dunn said that Alfaro reported assaults by Garcia to the police three times during the stormy relationship, but then declined to file formal charges.

When Garcia was seen the night after the slaying near the family home, he had a gun but no shots were fired, police said. Officers searched the area with dogs and a helicopter but did not find him.

Garcia made threatening calls to the home Monday and again Tuesday, Dunn said. Alfaro’s cousin, Mauricio Alfaro, said he answered one of the calls and heard Garcia say, “I am going to kill you.”

Because of the calls and the sighting of Garcia, police believe he is still in the area and could attempt to follow up on his threats. “He is acting in such an irrational manner that there is no telling what he will do,” Dunn said.

Police said that Garcia, who is known to associate with gang members, is believed to be armed and cautioned the public that if he is seen, his whereabouts should be reported to police.

But that didn’t stop the family and friends of Anna Alfaro, who on Tuesday night stood outside on Hazeltine Avenue. When a man they believed was Garcia was spotted a block from the Alfaro home, a group of young men ran after him. He got away.

Police could not confirm the sighting.