Man Kills Wife, a 2-Year-Old and Himself

A man released from jail after serving only five days of a 30-day sentence for spousal abuse fatally shot his 16-year-old pregnant wife, her 2-year-old cousin and himself Thursday outside a Rowland Heights apartment, authorities said.

Humberto Huelitl, 22, shotgunned his wife, Veronica Daniel, and her cousin, Betito Hernandez, to death, Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies said. Two others, Alberto Hernandez, 34, and Cesar Hernandez, also were shot, but their injuries were not serious and they were treated and released at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center.

When Huelitl showed up at the apartment in the 2000 block of Vivero Drive on Wednesday, family members forced him to leave, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Matthew Rodriguez said. But he returned Thursday afternoon with a 12-gauge shotgun, Rodriguez said.

Alberto Hernandez was hit in the groin and Cesar Hernandez in the leg. Daniel barricaded herself and her young cousin in a rear bedroom of the apartment, but Huelitl fired through the door and killed the child.

Daniel crawled through a first-floor window, but Huelitl ran outside and confronted her, deputies said. Although she begged Huelitl not to hurt her, pleading that she was pregnant, Huelitl shot her and then turned his shotgun on himself, Sheriff’s Lt. Ray Peavy said.

Huelitl had been arrested March 25 on the charge of spousal abuse, and authorities last week issued a temporary restraining order to keep him away from Daniel.

He pleaded no contest to abusing Daniel, was sentenced to 150 days in jail, 120 days of it suspended, and three years summary probation, and was directed to undergo a year of domestic-violence counseling, said Sandi Gibbons, spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office.

Sheriff’s officials said Huelitl also received a concurrent 10-day sentence for an unrelated traffic violation.

Sgt. George Ducoulombier said Huelitl was released Saturday under the department’s “early release procedures” after serving the five days. The restraining order had expired by the time he left jail.

Several neighbors who said the couple frequently fought were outraged by Huelitl’s release.

“What’s the good of arresting him if you’re going to let him go? What’s the good of a restraining order if you’re not going to restrain him?” asked Evangelyn M. Holmes, manager of a neighboring apartment complex.