ARCADIA, Calif. — A 15-year-old girl was shot and killed inside her Arcadia home on Thursday morning, and the 20-year-old man she was dating was arrested in Pasadena about an hour later after shooting himself as officers moved in, according to authorities.
Click here to read KTLA's October 22, 2026 report on the Arcadia shooting.
Arcadia police were called to a possible shooting at a residence in the 800 block of West Huntington Drive at about 11 a.m. on October 22, 2026, according to a department statement reported by KTLA and MyNewsLA.
Officers found the girl suffering from a gunshot wound inside the home, and she was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the statement.
The victim was identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner as Mina Kurdian, 15, according to FOXLA.
The suspect is Paul Anthony Cruz Jr., 20, who sheriff's officials said was in a dating relationship with the victim, according to the reports.
A Call on Huntington Drive, a Forced Entry, and a Teenager Gone
The caller who reported the shooting said a man was inside the residence and had fired a gun, according to Arcadia police.
Sheriff's officials said Cruz forced his way into the home before the shooting, according to KTLA.
Neighbors told reporters they heard arguing and then shots, followed by a woman's screams for help, according to FOXLA and KTLA.
"We heard a woman screaming. We heard her asking for an ambulance. It sounded like it was a mom for sure," neighbor Daisy Valdez told KTLA.
The girl's mother was at the home when officers arrived, according to FOXLA.
By the time officers got inside, Cruz had already fled, according to police.
Sheriff's Lt. German Ochoa said the department would not release information about the victim's background, according to KTLA.
Get help from someone local. Text HELP to (805) 719-7630 and we'll set up a time to talk that works for you.
A Manhunt to Pasadena, a Self-Inflicted Shot, and an Arrest
About an hour after the Arcadia shooting, officers tracked Cruz to a shopping center on South Arroyo Parkway in Pasadena, according to MyNewsLA and KTLA.
As Pasadena officers prepared to contact him at about noon, Cruz shot himself in front of multiple witnesses, according to the sheriff's department.
Workers at an auto shop across the street told ABC7 they heard a shot and saw officers approach and handcuff the man, according to MyNewsLA.
Cruz was taken to a hospital in critical condition and was arrested, according to MyNewsLA.
As of Friday morning, he had not been booked into the county jail system, according to MyNewsLA.
No charges have been announced.
An Open Investigation, a Family's Loss, and How to Help
The motive for the killing remains under investigation, according to sheriff's officials.
The case is being handled by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau, according to Arcadia police.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500, according to the reports. Anonymous tips go to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or lacrimestoppers.org.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233, and the Los Angeles County Domestic Violence Hotline is (800) 978-3600.
Sources
KTLA, teen girl in Arcadia shot and killed by man she was dating, October 22, 2026; FOXLA, man accused of killing 15-year-old girlfriend in Arcadia domestic violence shooting, October 23, 2026; MyNewsLA, Arcadia police suspect man of killing teen girlfriend after suicide attempt, October 23, 2026; Arcadia Police Department statement, October 22, 2026, as reported.