HOUSTON, Texas — A Houston family is demanding justice after a woman and her boyfriend were fatally shot outside their north Houston home, in a case police say may have stemmed from a conflict involving the woman’s former boyfriend.
The victims were identified as 29-year-old Dariela Elizabeth Cardona and 41-year-old Erick Von Gerbitz. Both were found dead outside a home in the 900 block of Lindale Street on the morning of October 5, 2026.
Houston police were called to the neighborhood shortly after 8:20 a.m. after reports of gunfire. When officers arrived, they found Cardona and Gerbitz suffering from fatal gunshot wounds. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Police Investigate Possible Domestic Violence Connection
According to investigators, the shooting appears to have followed an argument involving Cardona and her former boyfriend, David Elijah Herrera.
Police believe Herrera drove past the residence and fired multiple shots before leaving the area. Investigators classified the incident as a drive-by shooting after finding multiple spent shell casings around the property and street.
Authorities said Cardona and Gerbitz had recently rekindled their relationship. That development is among the circumstances investigators are examining as they work to establish what led to the deadly confrontation.
Witness Information Helped Lead Police to Suspect
The investigation quickly expanded beyond the immediate crime scene.
Police said a citizen captured information about the suspect vehicle, including a partial license plate. Investigators also used Flock Safety camera footage to track the vehicle and identify Herrera.
The suspect was eventually located near Dayton, Texas, where he was taken into custody.
Herrera was subsequently charged with capital murder in connection with the deaths of Cardona and Gerbitz. He was being held in the Harris County Jail pending further court proceedings.
Family Remembers Dariela
Cardona’s death has devastated relatives, friends and people who knew her in the neighborhood.
Her family described her as a loving, hardworking woman and mother who was raising two young sons. She had also been working as a hairstylist and was building her own business.
Neighbors remembered seeing Cardona with her children and described her as someone who cared deeply about her family. Her workplace, Hive Salon, closed following her death as friends and colleagues gathered to mourn her.
The loss is particularly painful for Cardona’s children, who must now grow up without their mother.
Erick Von Gerbitz Also Killed
Gerbitz, the father of Cardona’s younger son, was also killed in the shooting.
According to investigators, he and Cardona had recently renewed their relationship. The couple were together when the gunfire erupted outside the home.
Police have not publicly released extensive details about Gerbitz’s personal life, but his death has added another devastating dimension to the tragedy, leaving family members and loved ones mourning two lives lost in the same attack.
A Community Left Shaken
The shooting has shocked residents of the Lindale Street neighborhood.
For those who knew Cardona, the tragedy is difficult to reconcile with the ordinary morning that preceded it. Investigators say the couple had recently dropped off their young son at a nearby school before the shooting occurred.
Police have emphasized that domestic violence can escalate into deadly violence and have urged people experiencing threats or abuse to seek assistance before situations become dangerous.
Houston police have said resources are available for people experiencing domestic violence, including assistance with safety planning and protective measures.
Investigation and Court Proceedings
Investigators continue to examine the events leading up to the shooting, including the reported dispute involving Cardona’s former boyfriend.
Herrera faces a capital-murder charge. The charge represents an allegation, and the case will now proceed through the criminal justice system.
Herrera has been charged but has not been convicted. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
For Cardona’s family, however, the legal process cannot undo the loss of a mother, daughter and loved one. For Gerbitz’s relatives, it means grieving a life that ended alongside someone he had recently reunited with.
Their loved ones are now left asking for accountability — and remembering two people whose lives were suddenly taken by gun violence.
