Dariela Cardona: Ex-Boyfriend Charged in Houston Shooting

Dariela Cardona, a 29-year-old hairstylist and mother of two boys, was shot and killed outside a home in north Houston, Texas, on Monday morning, October 5, 2026. Erick Von Gerbitz, 41, was killed alongside her. Houston police say the man now charged in both deaths is Cardona's former boyfriend.

The Houston Police Department announced on Tuesday that David Elijah Herrera, 31, has been charged with capital murder. He was taken into custody in neighboring Liberty County within hours of the shooting. Herrera has not been convicted of any crime in this case and is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Who Was Dariela Cardona?

Cardona's father identified her to KPRC 2 reporters on the day of the shooting. Relatives described her to the station as happy, hardworking and loving. She worked as a hairstylist, and ABC13 reported that the Hive Salon, where she worked, closed for the day to mourn.

KPRC 2 reported that she died outside the home where she grew up. She leaves behind two sons. A neighbor, Jesus Flores, told ABC13 that she was devoted to her sons and had recently started her own hair business. "I can't imagine how her sons feel," he said.

Another neighbor, Patricia Flores, told KPRC 2 that she had known Cardona for years and had known the accused man since elementary school. "I was really in shock to find out the person who did it," she said.

Who Was Erick Von Gerbitz?

ABC13 identified the man who died as Erick Von Gerbitz, 41, and reported that he was the father of Cardona's younger son. KPRC 2 gave his name as Erick Gerbitz. According to ABC13, police said the two had recently reconciled.

The official police news release does not name either victim. It lists them as a 41-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman and says formal identification is pending notification of family by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.

What Happened on Lindale Street?

According to the Houston Police Department, officers were called to a reported shooting on Lindale Street at about 8:15 a.m. on Monday, October 5. They found a man and a woman who had been shot. Houston Fire Department paramedics pronounced both of them dead at the scene.

ABC13 reported, citing police, that the couple had just dropped their young son at a nearby school and were returning home. According to KPRC 2, neighbors told police they heard gunshots, and police allege that Herrera drove past the home and opened fire. One of Cardona's uncles told the station he was grateful that her children were not there.

Has Anyone Been Arrested?

Yes. Police say Herrera was arrested in Liberty County shortly after the shooting. After consulting the Harris County District Attorney's Office, investigators charged him with capital murder in the 209th Criminal District Court, and he was booked into the Harris County Jail.

Detective Mark Holbrook told ABC13 that a resident recorded cell phone video that gave investigators a partial license plate. License plate reader cameras then picked up the vehicle. FOX 26 reported, citing the Liberty County Precinct 5 Constable's Office, that the car was a red Ford Fusion, that a deputy constable spotted it and called for backup, and that Precinct 5 Constable David Hunter was among those who responded. After a traffic stop, authorities say, Herrera came out with his hands up and was arrested.

Local reports differ slightly on the exact place of the arrest, with KPRC 2 describing it as near Dayton and ABC13 as near Cleveland. Both towns are in Liberty County.

What Police Have Said

Houston police told KPRC 2 that the shooting stemmed from a domestic violence incident involving the woman's ex-boyfriend. ABC13 reported that officials believe Herrera was jealous that Cardona had reconciled with the father of her son. That is an allegation from investigators. It has not been tested in court, and no response from Herrera or an attorney appears in the reports reviewed for this article.

After the suspect was detained, Holbrook said, as quoted by ABC13: "At this time, we have someone detained; there is no further threat to the public."

The case is assigned to HPD Homicide Division Detectives D. Crowder and A. Vinogradov.

What Happens Next

Univision 45 Houston, citing Harris County court documents, reported that Herrera was being held with no bond set, that prosecutors filed a motion asking that bail be denied, and that his first court appearance was scheduled for Wednesday, October 7, 2026. If bail is granted, prosecutors asked for conditions that include no contact with the victims' families, according to the same report.

Formal identification of both victims by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences was still pending when police issued their release. Cardona's family told KPRC 2 that their focus now is caring for her two sons.

Anyone in the United States who is worried about their safety in a relationship can reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 at any hour.

Timeline of the Dariela Cardona Case

Frequently Asked Questions

Who were the victims of the Lindale Street shooting in Houston?

Family members and local news reports identify them as Dariela Cardona, 29, and Erick Von Gerbitz, 41. Police have confirmed their ages but said formal identification was still pending.

Who is charged in the death of Dariela Cardona?

David Elijah Herrera, 31, is charged with capital murder, according to the Houston Police Department. Police describe him as Cardona's ex-boyfriend. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

How did police find the suspect?

Police say a resident's cell phone video provided a partial license plate, and license plate reader cameras tracked the car to Liberty County, where constable's deputies made a traffic stop.

Is the accused in custody?

Yes. Police say he was booked into the Harris County Jail. Univision 45 reported that no bond had been set and that prosecutors asked the court to deny bail.

MotiveX covers cases like this in documentary form on YouTube.

Sources

• Houston Police Department: news release on the arrest and charge in the Lindale Street shooting
• KPRC 2 Click2Houston: family and neighbors remember Dariela Cardona
• KPRC 2 Click2Houston: man arrested and charged in north Houston shooting
• ABC13 Houston: suspect identified after parents killed outside north Houston home
• ABC13 Houston: suspect charged with capital murder in Lindale Street case
• FOX 26 Houston: details of the Liberty County traffic stop and charge
• Univision 45 Houston: court records on bond and first court appearance (in Spanish)