Pregnant Woman, Unborn Baby Killed in Escondido Shooting

Ruben Anthony Cepeda, 21, is wanted for the double-homicide

An Escondido teenager and her unborn child died in a shooting Saturday evening. Now, police are searching for the teenager’s boyfriend in connection with her death.

Ruben Anthony Cepeda, 21, is wanted for the double-homicide according to the Escondido Police Department. On Tuesday, Escondido police issued a warrant for his arrest.

Officers were called to a unit within the Estancia Apartments at 725 N. Fig Street around 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

They discovered the 18-year-old woman inside her apartment, the victim of a gunshot wound to the stomach. The woman was four months pregnant according to family members.

Yemely Rodriguez told NBCSanDiego the couple was excited, hugging and kissing before the shooting. She said she was in another room when she heard a gunshot.

When she found her sister, she saw Ruben holding her sister's stomach. He told Rodriguez to call 911, she said.

Ruben and a friend left the apartment. Rodriguez said she thought it was to get more help.

Emergency crews transported the woman to a nearby hospital where both she and her unborn child were pronounced dead about an hour later.

"She was struggling, she was, I know she wanted to be alive," Rodriguez said.

Detectives have identified Cepeda as the suspect in the shooting. He is described as armed and dangerous.

Lieutenant Craig Carter said the couple had recently moved into the apartment together. Officials said it's unclear whether the baby was Cepeda's child.

Rodriguez said the baby was unplanned but that it was Cepeda's. The couple was both excited about having a baby, she said, and were hoping it would be a boy. Cepeda has a child with another woman according to Rodriguez.

The victim's cousin Edelia Castilo appealed to Cepeda, "Just come and give yourself in. Take care of your actions."

If anyone has information about this case, please contact the Escondido Police Department immediately at 760-839-4722. 
 

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