HIALEAH, Fla. – A man who barricaded himself inside a Hialeah home Sunday night killed his girlfriend and then killed himself, police and family members of the victim told Local 10 News.
Hialeah police spokesman Carl Zogby said Julian Ovalle, 40, killed his girlfriend, Rossana Sabater, 31, and then took his own life during a domestic dispute at a home in the 600 block of East 63rd Street.
The SWAT team was called to the home about 8 p.m. Sunday and a standoff ensued, lasting about three hours. Eventually, police entered the home and found the bodies.
Police did not release any details of the murder-suicide, but Sebastian Acosta, who claimed to be Sabater's uncle, said Ovalle stabbed his niece and then slit his own throat.
Acosta said the couple has two children together, ages 7 and 4, and Sabater has a 15-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. Acosta said Ovalle kicked the children out of the house earlier in the day.
Police said there was evidence that a fire had been started during the incident, and neighbors reported seeing smoke coming from the home.
The bodies were removed from the home Monday afternoon.
No other information was immediately known.