Three people died after flames swept through a detached unit on South Fifth Street.
MONTEBELLO, Calif. — Police are investigating a deadly Montebello fire as a suspected domestic violence attack after a woman, her 13-year-old son and a badly burned man died following a blaze Thursday morning.
The fire broke out shortly after 4:30 a.m. in the 100 block of South Fifth Street. Friends identified the woman as Rossy Borquez and the boy as Atiel. Police said the man who died is believed to be the suspect, though his name had not been released.
Officers arrived to find the detached unit engulfed in flames and two adults outside with severe burns. Both were rushed to a hospital in critical condition. Firefighters searched the home after knocking down the blaze and found the boy dead inside.
Montebello Police Chief Luis Lopez said the case appeared to involve domestic violence. Lopez said the neighborhood was grieving and called the loss especially painful because it involved a family. Investigators said they were still working to determine what happened before the fire began.
Neighbors reported hearing loud blasts before seeing flames. Alisson Gomez, who lived near the unit, said she saw a man and woman badly burned outside and heard the woman screaming for her son. Other residents said the boy was upstairs when the fire spread.
Friends said Borquez had moved from Mexico a couple of years ago and had raised concerns about her relationship. Anaya, a friend of Borquez, said she last spoke with her Monday and that Borquez was upset about her boyfriend’s behavior.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner was still notifying relatives Friday as police and arson investigators examined the damaged property. Authorities had not released the official cause of the fire, the man’s identity or whether the man lived at the residence.
The investigation now turns on fire evidence, witness statements and medical examiner findings. Police have not announced a final case summary, and officials said more information is expected after the victims are formally identified.
Author note: Last updated Saturday, May 16, 2026.