Rancho Cucamonga woman shot in chest, held hostage for 26 days

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. -- A Southern California woman was shot in the chest and held hostage in Rancho Cucamonga for 26 days without medical treatment before finally escaping with her 7-year-old son, police say.

Police arrested 37-year-old Michael Venegas, who lived with the victim in an apartment in the 10800 block of Terra Vista Parkway.

According to detectives, back on April 1, the couple had an argument and the woman tried to leave him.

That's when he allegedly shot her in the chest and kept her in the apartment against her will - without medical treatment - for 26 days. The bullet went through the victim and came out the other side, according to officials.

The victim somehow escaped on Sunday and managed to get to Whittier Presbyterian Hospital on Monday with her son. Her condition is currently unknown.

She told doctors that she was in fear for her life, her son's life and her parents' lives and that's why she didn't try to escape sooner.

Sheriff's investigators arrived at the apartment in an armored vehicle. At first, armed deputies tried to get the suspect to walk out.

When Venegas wouldn't come out, sheriff's officials sent in a remote-controlled robot to see where he was and if he was armed. Venegas, who is wheelchair-bound, was located in the apartment and arrested without incident.

Venegas was charged with attempted murder, false imprisonment and kidnapping.

If you have any information about this incident, you're urged to contact the Rancho Cucamonga Police Department at (909) 477-2800.