An Orange County, California, woman was killed on Thursday, while attending a vigil for a man shot to death the day prior.
The Orange County Register reports that Trisha Verdugo, 27, was standing in the parking lot of a strip mall off of 17th Street and Grand Avenue, in Santa Ana, when a car stuck her, killing her. According to Cpl. Anthony Bertagna, Verdugo had gotten into an argument with the car driver shortly before the incident occurred.
Trisha Irene Verdugo Run Over and Killed Where Joseph Frank Garcia Shot Dead https://t.co/EsB4PDGIVF via @ocweekly
— OC Weekly (@OCWeekly) February 10, 2017
“She got into a verbal argument and for whatever reason the suspect hits her with the car. She flew some feet and he hit her again with the car and drove off.”
Detectives are still unclear why the argument started or who the suspect is. The family is now dealing with a double tragedy. The day before the vigil, Joseph Garcia, 23, was shot and killed in an alley behind the strip mall. He was shot numerous times in the upper chest area. Police indicated that Garcia may have been involved in drugs and gang-related activity, which could have prompted the shooting. However, Garcia was not a documented gang member.
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Verdugo’s aunt, Norma Velasquez, told CBS Los Angeles that her niece was a loving person and a caring mother.
“And it’s eating me up. Why her. This loving girl, this loving mother. Why? Just because she came to pay respects to someone, she loses her life?”
The suspects in both murders are still on the run. So far, there’s been no description announced for any of the suspects.
Anyone with any information should call Santa Ana police at 714-245-8390 or the Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-847-6227.
[Feature Photo: Family Handout]
