Erick Von Gerbitz, a 41-year-old Hispanic man, was a devoted father and son who had recently moved back to Houston to reunite with his family. An electrician by trade, Erick left his job in Amarillo, Texas, to rekindle his relationship of about seven years with his partner, Dariela Elizabeth Cardona. The couple shared a 4-year-old son. Erick’s mother, Blanca Von Gerbitz, remembered him as a loving son who called her "the queen."
She recalled their nightly tradition, and their last conversation on Sunday night ended with her saying, “Good night, my son, I love you.” His family said he was taught from a young age to respect women.
The night before the shooting, the couple reportedly felt threatened by Cardona's ex-boyfriend. According to Erick's mother, they had received a death threat and called the police for help. Late into the evening, Erick told his mother, "Mom, it's going to be 11 and the police haven't arrived." She urged him to keep calling for assistance. The following morning, on Monday, October 5, 2026, Erick and Dariela dropped their young son off at school. Shortly after they returned to their home in the 900 block of Lindale Street in north Houston, the unthinkable happened.
Just before 8:15 a.m., as the couple stood outside their residence, Cardona’s ex-boyfriend allegedly drove by in a red car. Surveillance footage described by Erick’s mother showed Erick gesturing with his hands, indicating they had nothing to discuss. A short time later, the man returned and opened fire. Blanca Von Gerbitz said the footage showed her son being shot first. When Dariela, 29, ran toward Erick, she was also shot. The attack occurred in broad daylight in the driveway of the home where Cardona had grown up. When Houston Police Department officers arrived, they found Erick and Dariela with multiple gunshot wounds. Paramedics pronounced both of them dead at the scene.
The investigation began immediately. Houston Police Department detectives learned that a neighbor’s doorbell camera and an alert citizen’s cell phone video had captured images of the suspect's red Ford Fusion fleeing the scene, including a partial license plate number. Using this information and license plate tracking cameras, investigators were able to locate the vehicle. Later that day, Precinct 5 Constable deputies conducted a traffic stop in Liberty County, near Cleveland, Texas. The driver, identified as 31-year-old David Elijah Herrera, surrendered with his hands up and was taken into custody without incident.
David Elijah Herrera was arrested and charged with capital murder for the deaths of Erick Von Gerbitz and Dariela Cardona. Investigators believe the motive was jealousy over Cardona’s reconciliation with Erick. On Wednesday, October 7, Herrera made his first court appearance, where a judge formally read the probable cause and ordered him held in the Harris County Jail without bond. His next court date was scheduled for November 5 in the 209th District Criminal Court.
The loss devastated two families and a community. Dariela, a mother to two sons aged 4 and 14, was remembered as a talented and beloved hairstylist at a salon in The Heights. Her workplace closed for the day to mourn, and friends and clients recalled her infectious laugh and warm, glowing personality. Erick’s mother, Blanca, was consumed by a grief she called "the strongest pain for a mother." She and Erick's sister, Lisa Leal, expressed their intent to attend all court hearings. Recalling a painful family history where the men who killed her police officer brother 30 years prior were released from prison early, Blanca called for the death penalty for Herrera.
As of October 2026, the case against David Elijah Herrera was proceeding through the Harris County court system. The families of Erick Von Gerbitz and Dariela Cardona were left to navigate their immense loss while hoping for justice. Erick’s sister, Lisa Leal, urged anyone facing threats or violence in a relationship to seek help. "You think that if he is your boyfriend, your husband, he is not going to hurt you," she said. "Get help. It's worth it, your life is worth it."
