2 CA Children Abducted By 'Armed And Dangerous' Man: CHP

LOS ANGELES, CA — Two young girls were abducted Wednesday by a 23-year-old man who is described as "armed and dangerous," the California Highway Patrol said.

The children's mother was found dead from a gunshot wound at a home in Hanford on Tuesday, ABC 7 Eyewitness News reported. Hanford is in Kings County, about 85 miles north of Bakersfield.

Kings County Sheriff's Office detectives believe the toddlers were taken from their home near Fourth Place and Orchard Drive by their father, Jonathan Alexis Maldonado-Cruz. He is considered a suspect in the fatal shooting, according to sheriff's officials.

Maldonado Cruz is potentially driving a 2020 gray Hyundai Elantra on his way to Mexico with the two children — 3-year-old Arya Maldonado and 2-year-old Alana Maldonado. His license plate is 8LZD084 and he was last seen at East 4th Place and Home Avenue in Hanford, Kings County.

Jonathan is described as 5' 9" tall, weighing 215 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Arya is 25 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes and Alana is 20 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.

An Amber Alert was sent throughout Kings, Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Orange and Imperial counties.

The public is urged to call 911 if the suspect, the vehicle or the girls are spotted.

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