LOS ANGELES — A California fugitive wanted for gunning down his ex-girlfriend in front of their toddler daughter — and in view of a home security camera — fatally shot himself as Texas authorities closed in on him over the weekend.
Herbert Nixon Flores, 46, was the subject of a nationwide search following the fatal shooting Wednesday of Karen Ruiz. The FBI Fugitive Task Force tracked him to Irving, where authorities said he was visiting family.
Detectives in Irving began an investigation, which ultimately led to Flores being located in Arlington on Saturday, Irving police officials said in a statement.
“While officers were monitoring the location, Flores was seen getting inside a vehicle (that) began traveling toward Dallas,” the statement said.
Dallas police officers on the ground and in the air began helping to track the fugitive’s movements until marked patrol cars could respond to the area.
“Flores realized that he was being followed, abandoned his vehicle and began walking on foot,” Irving police officials said. “Once Flores saw marked police cars pulling up on him, he killed himself with one self-inflicted gunshot wound from a handgun he had on his person.”
>> Related story: California mother gunned down on camera in front of toddler daughter
Attached is a media release in reference to Irving Police Department assisting in the location of murder suspect Herbert Nixon Flores out of Los Angeles, California. pic.twitter.com/arbCQPAqk9
— Irving Police Dept. (@IrvingPD) January 9, 2021
Flores, who the FBI described as an El Salvadoran national and known MS-13 gang member, was accused of following Ruiz, 35, to the babysitter’s house around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in Pacoima, a section of Los Angeles located in the San Fernando Valley.
The babysitter’s Nest security camera captured the next several horrifying moments.
The footage, released by the Los Angeles Police Department, shows Ruiz get out of her SUV and reach into the back seat. Her 3-year-old daughter can be seen moving around in what appears to be a child safety seat.
Suddenly, a car pulls rapidly behind the SUV.
Watch the video here, on the LAPD’s YouTube channel. Warning: The footage is extremely disturbing.
Ruiz apparently spots her ex-boyfriend’s car and, screaming in obvious terror, runs toward the front door of the home. Los Angeles Detective Sharon Kim told NBC Los Angeles that Ruiz, who had recently ended the relationship, had an active restraining order against Flores.
Flores runs after her, a pistol in hand. As Ruiz, who is out of camera range at the front door, screams for help, he grips the gun in both hands and fires.
Flores fires six bullets at Ruiz, appearing to follow her body with the gun barrel as she falls to the ground.
The Fugitive Task Force continues tonight to seek Herbert Nixon Flores. Known by the moniker "Shyboy," he has ties to #Arleta, #Adelanto, #Victorville & other cities. He is suspected by @LAPDHQ for the murder of his ex-girlfriend on 1/6/21. #FugitiveFridayhttps://t.co/zrIWo2cGIO
— FBI Los Angeles (@FBILosAngeles) January 9, 2021
Children and adults can be heard screaming as Flores turns and runs back to his car, past the vehicle where his young daughter still sits. He backs out of the driveway and speeds away.
“He killed her,” a male voice from inside the house appears to say.
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Paramedics pronounced Ruiz dead at the scene, authorities said. Two days after the killing, Flores was charged with murder, child endangerment and shooting at an inhabited dwelling or occupied car.
Kim told KTLA that Flores had been threatening and stalking Ruiz for months before the shooting.
“The relationship was violent,” Kim told the news station. “She had several reports made against him over the years and most recently, she took out a restraining order against him due to some violent acts he committed against her.”
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