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TAMARA LUSHThe suspect is accused of beating his estranged girlfriend with a tire iron in front of their two children.
TAMPA - A man used a tire iron to attack his estranged girlfriend Thursday night, police said, just days after she filed for a domestic violence injunction.
The man, 35-year-old Carlos Juan Loyola-Riguenes, fled after the attack and is wanted on several warrants.
"It was a brutal assault," said Tampa Police spokesman Joe Durkin.
According to detectives, 19-year-old Mildrey Zanora left her home Wednesday with her two children because she was afraid of Loyola-Riguenes.
Thursday night, Loyola-Riguenes found where Zanora was living and kicked in the door, police say. Zanora ran upstairs to hide.
While the couple's two children, aged 4 and 2, looked on, Loyola-Riguenes hit Zanora repeatedly with a tire iron, police said.
During the attack, Zanora's mother arrived at the home, and police said Loyola-Riguenes hit her as well.
Zanora escaped from the home and called 911 from a neighbor's residence. Loyola-Riguenes left before police arrived.
Zanora's mother, 36-year-old Marlen Lona'Ortega, was treated by paramedics at the scene.
Zanora was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital. Authorities said her injuries were not life-threatening.
Zanora had filed a domestic violence injunction against Loyola-Riguenes, but police said it had not yet been served when she was attacked.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Loyola-Riguenes may call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-873-8477, Tampa police at 231-6130 or their local law enforcement agency.
- Tamara Lush can be reached at 226-3373 or at lush@sptimes.com