Bodies of woman and child found inside southeast Houston home

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - Homicide investigators say the bodies of a woman and her child were found inside a southeast Houston home.

The Houston Police Department said Veronica Mercado, a woman in her 20s, and her  2-year-old daughter were found dead with multiple gunshot wounds in the kitchen of a home on Elvera Street near Broadway. Mercado was still holding her baby in her arms when the police found them inside.

Police are currently searching for Jonathan Figueroa, her boyfriend, as a person of interest in the case. Sergeant Mark Holbrook said a person, identified as a friend of Figuerora, called police to report his car missing. The friend said he had received a call from Figueroa that was alarming, so he alerted police.

Police said there is a history of domestic violence between Mercado and Figueroa.

When police arrived at the home, they found the front door broken.

The woman is described as a mother of 3, and her two other children were said to be in school at the time of the shooting.

HPD says Figueroa is believed to be driving a burgundy Ford Taurus with license plate CTS3225. They believe Figueroa is headed for Mexica, where he is from.

Family and friends have left candles burning on Mercado’s front porch.