Vanessa Renee Lopez, 28

Vanessa Renee Lopez, a 28-year-old Latina, was shot and killed Sunday, July 19, in the 1300 block of Caprino Way in Pomona, according to Los Angeles County coroner records. 

Pomona police became aware of the incident at 2:50 a.m., when they received a call about shots fired in the normally quiet residential neighborhood, Sgt. Marcus Perez said. 

Officers found Lopez and her boyfriend in the back seat of a car with gunshot wounds, Perez said.  

Lopez was pronounced dead at the scene at 3:06 a.m. Her boyfriend, Manuel Flores Jr., 30, was taken to Los Angeles County USC Medical Center, where he is in critical condition, Perez said. 

Lopez had moved to Pomona recently from another county, he said. She worked at a fast-food restaurant. 

The car was parked in the driveway of Flores’ residence, “in a nice neighborhood with older homes,” Perez said.

Investigators are still trying to determine a motive for the shooting.

“This was not a drive-by shooting; this is not a neighborhood with gang activity,” Perez said. “Based on what our witnesses have said, we’re looking for somebody who came up to the car on foot and then ran away southbound down the street.”

The area is fairly dark, he said, so the witnesses saw the suspect only in silhouette. The figure appeared to be male.

Anyone with information can call the Pomona Police Department at (909) 620-2085. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

— Jeanette Marantos