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Manhunt continues for suspect(s) tied to string of homicides

Posted at 6:42 PM, Jun 22, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-23 12:09:52-04

"We tried to have kids for a long time," said the fiance of Diego Verdugo-Sanchez.

She didn't want to be identified during an interview with ABC15, but agreed to talk about what happened to the soon-to-be husband and father just weeks before their son was born.

"I finally get to have my son, then his dad is taken," she said.  

On Friday April 1 at 9 p.m., Diego Sr. quickly ran outside to lock his car when the gun shots went off.

"He was in front of his car, leaning on the ground," she said. "He was bleeding from the mouth and eyes."

For weeks, Diego's family thought this was a target hit only to learn the suspect(s) were actually out to kill anyone. Police linked the shootings in three other neighborhood to Diego's case. All of them happened just a few miles apart. Each victim was in the same situation. They were in or near their car when someone gunned them down.

Horacio De Jesus Pena was the next target. He was killed Friday June 3 around 10 p.m. Then Manuel Castro Garcia was shot to death one week later. The last hit, the suspect(s) gunned down three woman who were sitting in their car near 63rd Avenue and McDowell Road. The suspects opened fire killing Angela Linner and 12-year-old Malea Ellis.

Malea's family says she was shot seven times. Her mother is still fighting for her life.

"I don't know how you can shoot my daughter 14 times, then my granddaughter seven times. It has to be more than one person."

These families are all speaking out hoping someone will come forward and say something. Silent Witness is offering $11,000 for any information that leads to an arrest.

The family of Angela Linner and Stefanie and Malea Ellis have set up a GoFundme account.