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 in the 3400 block of Camino del Rio South shortly before 1:30 p.m. Saturday, according to San Diego police.
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.
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