A Houston woman and her boyfriend were fatally shot outside their home shortly after dropping off their 4-year-old son at school, and the woman’s former boyfriend is now facing a capital murder charge, authorities said.
David Elijah Herrera, 31, was arrested in Liberty County on October 5, the same morning 29-year-old Dariela Elizabeth Cardona and 41-year-old Erick Von Gerbitz were killed. He was subsequently charged with capital murder and remains in the Harris County Jail without bond.
Houston police responded to a reported shooting at a home in the 900 block of Lindale Street shortly after 8 a.m. Officers found Cardona and Von Gerbitz suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Paramedics pronounced both victims dead at the scene.
Investigators believe the shooting was connected to a domestic dispute involving Herrera and Cardona, who had reportedly ended their relationship about a month earlier. Cardona had recently reconciled with Von Gerbitz, the father of her young son.
Family Says Couple Had Received Threats
In the hours before the shooting, Von Gerbitz reportedly told his mother, Blanca Gerbitz, that Herrera had threatened to kill him. According to the family, the couple had sought police assistance that night but were still waiting for a response hours later.
Blanca said she had been worried about her son’s safety even before the shooting. She had recently helped him return to Houston from Amarillo, hoping he could rebuild his family life.
Speaking about their final conversation, she recalled warning her son that she had a bad feeling about the situation.
The family also described how the couple’s final morning unfolded. According to Erick’s sister, Lisa Leal, security footage showed the couple returning home after dropping their young son off at school. Herrera was allegedly waiting outside the residence.
Leal said Von Gerbitz confronted the man and told him they had nothing to discuss. The encounter ended in gunfire, according to her account.
The reported threats and the couple’s efforts to seek help have added another painful dimension to a case that has left relatives mourning two lives lost in a matter of moments.
Investigators Tracked Suspect Through Vehicle Information
Police identified Herrera as a suspect and located him in Liberty County a short time after the shooting.
Investigators received information from a witness who reportedly saw a man leaving the area and recorded part of a vehicle’s license plate. Authorities then used Flock Safety license-plate reader technology to help locate a red Ford Fusion allegedly associated with Herrera.
He was taken into custody and later booked into the Harris County Jail.
Court records indicate that a magistrate judge denied bond. The court order states that Herrera allegedly shot and killed Cardona and Von Gerbitz before confessing to both killings.
Herrera is accused of the crimes and has not been convicted. The capital murder charge will proceed through the criminal court system.
Mother of Two Remembered for Her Work and Devotion to Her Children
Cardona leaves behind two young boys. She worked as a hairstylist at a salon in Houston’s Heights neighborhood, where she had been employed for about two years.
People who knew her remembered her as a devoted mother who worked hard to build a better life for her children.
A former co-worker recalled Cardona’s contagious laugh, while longtime neighbor Jesus Flores spoke about how much she did for her sons.
Flores said she regularly took her children on outings and had recently started building her own hair business. He remembered her as someone who put her children’s needs first and was making progress toward her goals.
Her death has left her family facing the loss of a mother who was working to create a future for her children.
Von Gerbitz’s family is also grieving a man who had recently returned to Houston with hopes of bringing his family together again.
For Blanca, the loss of her son has been especially difficult given the threats he reportedly described the night before his death.
She urged others not to dismiss warning signs when a former partner becomes threatening or jealous.
Suspect Remains in Custody as Case Moves Forward
Herrera appeared in court on October 7, when a judge ordered him held without bond, according to local reporting. His next court appearance is scheduled for November 5.
The case remains a stark reminder of the devastating consequences that can follow threats and escalating conflict in relationships. For the families of Cardona and Von Gerbitz, the immediate concern is seeking justice while caring for the children left behind.
