Updated at 3:25 p.m. July 24, 2017
Authorities released the names Monday of a mother and daughter from Chula Vista who died in shootings in Mission Valley over the weekend — one killed by an unknown assailant, and the other by her own hand after learning of the older woman’s slaying.
A third family member found the body of Maria Kelly, 66, in a small utility room at the victim’s second-floor workplace at an office building south of Qualcomm Stadium, according to San Diego police.
The discovery was in the 3400 block of Camino del Rio South shortly before 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
Upon getting word of her mother’s death, 34-year-old Crystal Vasquez went to the site of the slaying, Lt. Mike Holden said. A short time later, she left and went to a nearby business, where she fatally shot herself in a restroom.
A GoFundMe drive launched Sunday raised nearly $1,200 of a $20,000 goal in less than 24 hours.
“We are raising money for my beautiful grandmother and Aunt Crystal funeral expenses,” wrote Desiree Eselin of Santee. “These were two beautiful people who deserve to be laid to rest.”
She called Kelly “the sweetest person in the world, always thinking of her family and putting everyone else before her. It hurts me to know someone could harm such a beautiful soul.”
Vasquez was “an amazing mother and wife leaving behind her two beautiful babies and husband.”
Detectives have identified no suspects or motive in the homicide and are trying to determine exactly why Vasquez committed suicide.
“Could it have been out of grief? Yes,” Holden said.
Kelly, a professional tax preparer, had been reported missing hours before her body was discovered. Her family hadn’t seen her since Thursday, according to police.
Vasquez had worked at her mother’s business at times, the lieutenant said.
Investigators were poring through numerous surveillance-camera images captured at the office building, according to Holden.
— City News Service contributed to this report.
