Man Kills Estranged Wife, Her Boyfriend and Himself

Three people were killed Thursday in an apparent love triangle after an estranged husband shot his wife in Pomona, drove to Pacoima, where he killed one of her co-workers, and then turned the gun on himself miles away, authorities said.

Police said Steven Kraut, 41, of Acton and Elvia Maribel Arreola, 39, of Pomona were shot to death by the woman’s husband, 42-year-old Marcial Arreola of Rancho Cucamonga. Elvia Arreola was seeking a separation from her husband and had been dating Kraut, whom she worked with at a hardware manufacturing plant in Pacoima, said Sgt. Joann Crabb of the Pomona Police Department.

“All we know at this point is that she was seeing this guy and her husband found out about it,” Crabb said.

Police said residents reported gunfire about 5 a.m. in the 2100 block of Stocker Street in Pomona. Elvia Arreola’s body wasn’t found until 6:25 a.m. in her frontyard. Police said she had been shot several times.

Police are still trying to piece together a timeline but believe that after shooting his wife, Marcial Arreola drove to Pacoima, where his wife worked at Truth Hardware in the 12600 block of Van Nuys Boulevard.

About 7:20 a.m., he followed Kraut inside the gated complex and shot him once in the parking lot, said Det. Ray Broker of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Foothill Division.

“The victim was shot once at close range in the head,” Broker said.

Authorities believe the gunman drove back to Pomona, where he committed suicide in Weber Park in the 1000 block of North Weber Street. His body was found shortly before 10 a.m.

Police do not believe anyone else was involved in the shootings and have recovered the handgun they believe was used.

The Arreolas had four children and lived in Fontana before separating, court records show.