Sandra Rodriguez, 42, was found unresponsive near a busy intersection Thursday evening.
TUSTIN, Calif. — A 42-year-old woman was shot and killed Thursday evening near Seventeenth Street and Yorba Street North in Tustin, where police said witnesses reported gunfire and a man leaving the area in a dark sedan.
Sandra Rodriguez was found unresponsive on the east curb north of Seventeenth Street after officers responded about 6:11 p.m., according to Tustin police. Family members identified her as a mother and said she had recently started work at Families Together, a nonprofit health organization. Police said the shooting appeared isolated and that investigators had not found an ongoing threat to the public.
Officers arrived after several reports of shots fired near the busy intersection. Rodriguez was pronounced dead at the scene. Relatives said she had parked her car off-site and was shot near the vehicle. CBS News Los Angeles identified her as a mother of two, while other reporting citing family members described her as a mother of three. Police had not publicly resolved that difference by Friday afternoon.
Witnesses told officers that a man was seen leaving the area in a sedan after the shooting. Police said the person was possibly wearing dark clothing and may have been driving a dark-colored Honda. No arrest had been announced, and officials had not released a motive, a detailed suspect description or information about any relationship between Rodriguez and the person who fired the shots.
The killing shook Rodriguez’s family, co-workers and people who gathered near the scene. “For the family, I just wanted to acknowledge and honor them,” mourner Chris Walker said. “To acknowledge their sorrow and just kind of chat with them for a few minutes.” Families Together spokesperson Cassandra Rossel said the shooting stunned the organization. “This is extremely shocking to us,” Rossel said.
The investigation remained active Friday as detectives reviewed witness accounts and searched for the sedan. Police said no further details were immediately available, including whether surveillance video had been recovered from nearby homes or businesses.
Author note: Last updated May 17, 2026.