Child and 2 adults killed in Montebello house fire

Three people were killed, including a child, in a fire that engulfed a Montebello home. 

The Montebello Police Department responded to the 100 block of S. 5th Street around 4:34 a.m. after receiving reports of a residential fire.

When officers arrived, they found the home fully engulfed in flames and a man and a woman with severe burns. 

Firefighters responded to the home and extinguished the blaze. One child was found dead inside. 

The two other people were transported to a local hospital, where they were listed in critical condition before ultimately being pronounced dead. 

Montebello detectives and arson investigators are continuing to investigate the cause of the fire. Later in the day, Police Chief Luis Lopez said the preliminary investigation determined that "the man involved in this case is the suspect." Investigators believe the fire stemmed from an apparent domestic violence incident. Detectives did not immediately determine if the fire was intentionally set. 

Lopez said investigators believe the child was related to at least one of the adults, but could not specify. 

"It's a tragedy," Lopez added. "Anytime there is any loss of life, it's tragic. When it involves domestic violence, it's really tragic because it involves a family unit. When you have minors involved, as parents, as folks that have kids, it hurts more. This neighborhood is grieving."