LOS ANGELES, CA – An 18-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the fatal shooting of a woman found inside a crashed vehicle in Anaheim earlier this month, authorities confirmed.
The Anaheim Police Department responded to reports of a collision around 8 p.m. on March 4 in a residential area near East Wilhelmina and North Vine Streets, not far from La Palma Avenue and North East Street. Officers arriving at the scene discovered 48-year-old Charlene Lynn Zuazo in the driver’s seat of her vehicle, suffering from gunshot wounds.
According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office, Zuazo was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators believe she had been shot elsewhere and attempted to drive away before colliding with a parked car.
Following several days of investigation, police identified 18-year-old Jerry Gutierrez of Cudahy as the primary suspect in the killing. Gutierrez was arrested on March 7 without incident and booked into the Anaheim Police Department on a murder charge.
Officials have not yet disclosed a possible motive for the shooting, and it remains unclear whether Gutierrez and Zuazo knew each other. The case is expected to be submitted to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office for review and potential prosecution.
Police described the incident as a targeted shooting but have not released additional details pending the outcome of their investigation.
Anyone with relevant information is urged to contact Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS. Tips can be submitted anonymously. Authorities emphasized the importance of public assistance in helping investigators seek justice for the victim and maintain safety in the community.
