Police are searching for a man seen leaving the area in a dark sedan.
TUSTIN, Calif. — A 42-year-old woman shot and killed Thursday evening in a Tustin neighborhood has been identified by relatives as Sandra Rodriguez, a single mother of three.
Rodriguez was killed shortly after 6 p.m. near Yorba Street and Medford Avenue, where police said officers responded to multiple 911 calls about gunfire. The shooting has left her family searching for answers while investigators work to identify the person who fled the scene.
Police said Rodriguez had been walking to her car when a man approached and opened fire. Officers found her wounded near the street and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Witnesses told investigators the shooter wore dark clothing and left in an older, dark-colored sedan. Tustin police said the attack appeared isolated, but they had not announced an arrest.
Relatives said they did not know who would want to harm Rodriguez. Family members described her as a hardworking mother devoted to her children. “She was a good mom,” a relative told local reporters, adding that her children were the center of her life. The family’s account gave the case a name and face after police first described the victim only as a 42-year-old woman.
The shooting happened near a busy part of central Tustin, close to homes and businesses not far from 17th Street. Police blocked off the area Thursday night as detectives examined the roadway, searched for evidence and spoke with people who may have heard or seen the attack. Authorities have not released a motive, the number of shots fired or whether Rodriguez knew the gunman.
No charges had been filed as of Saturday, May 16. Detectives were reviewing witness statements and searching for surveillance video from nearby homes and businesses. Police said the suspect remained outstanding and asked anyone with information to contact investigators. Officials have not released the suspect’s name because he had not been identified publicly.
Neighbors said the sound of gunfire shocked the area during the early evening. The scene left behind police tape, patrol cars and a family grieving in public. Rodriguez’s relatives said they are focused on her children and on finding out why she was killed. Police said more information would be released when investigators can confirm it.
The case remained an active homicide investigation Saturday, with Tustin police still searching for the gunman and the dark sedan reported by witnesses.
Author note: Last updated Saturday, May 16, 2026.