A California teenager appeared shirtless in court to face charges for allegedly murdering his ex-girlfriend and three others in her rental home, which he then set on fire.
Miguel Sandoval, 19, has been accused of killing Matthew Montebello, 21; his partner Janvi Maquindang, 21; his sister, Christine Aca-ac, 26; and her fiancée Edwin Garcia , 24, inside their Lancaster home on November 16.
He allegedly entered the home while everyone was asleep, and fled the scene after the shooting, but was arrested several hours later, KTLA reports.
An unidentified 16-year-old sister of Aca-ac and Maquindang was uninjured after she hid in the closet and called 911.
When Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department deputies arrived at the scene at around 1.30am, they found the house engulfed in flames.
Five gunshot victims were found inside, three of whom were pronounced dead at the scene, and a fourth of whom later succumbed to their injuries at a local hospital.
Cops have claimed Sandoval also shot three dogs dead in the horrific spree.
The motivation for the grisly killing is unclear, but Matthew Montebello’s mother told KABC she knew of Sandoval as the scorned ex-boyfriend of one of the younger siblings who lived in the house.
Miguel Sandoval, 19, appeared shirtless in court to face charges for allegedly murdering his ex-girlfriend and three others in her rental home, which he then set on fire
He allegedly entered the home while everyone was asleep, and fled the scene after the shooting, but was arrested several hours later
Sandoval was taken into custody by the LASD, but was not charged for the grisly scene until Monday.
Montebello’s family says they are now struggling to wrap their heads around the tragedy, with his mother, Celeste, noting they had just celebrated the 21 year old’s birthday six days before.
‘The house is a safe place for us, supposedly, and for someone to go there and do this to him while they were sleeping, it hurts,’ she said.
Matthew’s brother, Andrew, also said they were best friends and called the pain ‘unimaginable.’
‘Parts of me have died or are dying,’ he told KTLA. ‘I don’t think I’m ever going to be the same.’
He described his brother as an origami master and a math whiz who was highly creative and earned many accolades, even as a child.
Montebello, who was the one who was raced to a hospital following the shooting, was also described in an online fundraiser as a ‘great brother and loving son, always considering his own family and setting aside time despite their distance.
‘He was a great artist and musician, who was able to convey his reality and memories through his art.’
Christine Aca-ac, her partner Edwin Garcia, (pictured together) were shot dead alongside her brother and her brothers’ fiancée in a horror mass shooting last week in Lancaster, California
Christine’s brother Janvi Maquindang and his fiancée Matthew Montebello (pictured together) were also killed in the spree along with the family’s three dogs
It noted that while in the hospital, Montebello was left in a vegetative state for a time as his kidneys were donated to one of his mother’s friends.
‘I want him to be remembered as a kind, loving child,’ Celeste told KABC. ‘Very respectful, caring, as a brother, as a gentle soul, very smart, very talented.’
She noted that the housemates enjoyed making music together.
‘That’s how they hung out. They tried to be creative,’ she said.
Edwin’s family also described him as a ‘pillar of joy and happiness’, who ‘had great aspirations to pursue a career as a educator both in academics and music.’
Meanwhile, in a GoFundMe set up to help Aca-ac and Maquindang’s family, a relative said the ‘loss is overwhelming, and the pain of their absence is something we are struggling to bear every day.’
Sandoval allegedly set the home on fire and fled the scene before he was arrested hours later
It said Christine was the legal guardian to two of her younger siblings, and ‘was a loving sister and a funny, vibrant, and deeply caring friend.’
‘She was loved by many for her infectious laughter, generosity, and ability to make everyone feel welcome’, it read, saying as legal guardian she ‘devoted her life to raising them in a loving, stable home.’
Janvi was also praised as a ‘bright and successful’ young man who graduated as a valedictorian of his high school class.
They said he was also a ‘special soul’ to the two young siblings Christine was legal guardian for, who have now been ‘left without their protector and guiding force.’
Now, Celeste and Andrew say they have one final message to Sandoval.
‘I want this evil man to know that you failed,’ Celeste said. ‘He didn’t succeed in doing this.’
