A woman, her teenage son and a man believed to be the suspect died after the early morning fire.
MONTEBELLO, CA — Three people died after a fire tore through a home early Thursday in Montebello, where police said the case appears tied to domestic violence and remains under investigation as a possible arson.
The fire brought homicide detectives and arson investigators to the 100 block of South Fifth Street, just south of Whittier Boulevard, after a 911 call about 4:30 a.m. Officers found a man and a woman with severe burns outside the burning home. A boy was later found dead inside. Police Chief Luis Lopez said investigators believe the man was the suspect and that the fire followed a domestic violence incident.
Police and firefighters arrived to find a detached unit engulfed in flames, forcing nearby residents to get out as crews attacked the fire. The man and woman were taken to a hospital in critical condition and later died. The boy, identified by people who knew the family as 13-year-old Atiel, did not escape the home. Friends said the woman was Rossy Borquez, who lived there with her son. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner had not officially released the victims’ names as of Saturday because family notifications were still being completed. Lopez said at a briefing that the investigation was in its early stages. “At this time, we believe that the male involved in this case is the suspect,” Lopez said. “This does appear to be a domestic violence-related incident.”
Investigators were working to determine how the fire started, where it began and what happened in the hours before the flames spread through the unit. Police said the man, badly burned, was outside when officers arrived. The Los Angeles Times reported that Lopez said the man had parked about two blocks from the home and tried to leave despite his injuries before officers stopped him. Other reports from the scene said the man was agitated and appeared to be trying to reach his car. The woman was also outside with severe burns when officers reached the home. Firefighters quickly knocked down the fire, but the home was left heavily damaged. Authorities have not released the suspected accelerant, the point of origin or the full sequence of events inside the home.
Neighbors described a chaotic scene before dawn as smoke and fire filled the property. Alisson Gomez, a neighbor who said she lived in the front apartment, said she escaped with her family and pets. She told a television reporter that she saw a man and a woman burning outside and heard the woman screaming for her son. Other residents said the scene unfolded quickly and left the block shaken. Friends of Borquez said they feared she and her son were among the dead when they heard about the fire. Diogeyda Rodriguez said she spoke with Borquez’s sister in San Diego, who confirmed to friends that Borquez and Atiel had died. Police have not said whether the suspect lived at the home or how he entered the unit.
Friends said Borquez had moved from Mexico a few years ago and had been in a relationship with the man investigators now believe was responsible. Hermalinda Anaya, who described Borquez as a friend, said she last spoke with her on Monday. Anaya said Borquez had talked about problems with her boyfriend and described him as controlling. Friends told reporters the man and Borquez had been romantically involved, but his name had not been released. Officials have not confirmed whether there were prior police calls to the home, restraining orders, court cases or documented reports of abuse involving the people in the case. Police also have not said whether any weapons were recovered or whether the woman suffered injuries before the fire began.
The case is being handled as both a death investigation and an arson investigation. Detectives were expected to review fire patterns, burn damage, witness statements, 911 calls, surveillance video from nearby homes or businesses and any records that could show what happened before the fire. Lopez said investigators would work backward through the timeline to identify the catalyst for the incident. The medical examiner’s office will determine official causes and manners of death after autopsies. Because the man believed to be the suspect died, any possible criminal filing would depend on whether investigators identify other crimes, other suspects or evidence that changes the early findings.
Montebello officials said the deaths hit a close neighborhood hard, especially because a child was killed. “Montebello is a very close-knit community,” Lopez said. “Any time there’s any loss of life, it’s tragic.” He said cases involving domestic violence and minors carry a deeper impact because they involve a family unit. On South Fifth Street, investigators spent hours at the burned unit while residents stood nearby and watched the work continue. Friends and neighbors shared memories of Borquez and her son while waiting for official identification from the county. The home remained a crime scene as investigators documented damage and gathered evidence from the property.
The investigation remained active Saturday, with the medical examiner still working on formal notifications and autopsy findings. Police said homicide and arson detectives were continuing to determine the fire’s origin, the suspect’s actions and the events that led to the deadly blaze.
Author note: Last updated May 16, 2026.