Friends remember slain Huntington Beach woman as ‘loving, caring’ and ‘kind-hearted’

Friends and family members of a Huntington Beach woman believed to have been killed by a neighbor with whom she had an ongoing dispute said Monday that she was generous and kind — the type of person who would do anything for anyone.

Elizabeth “Liz” Noriega, who lived in a condominium overlooking Huntington Harbour, was shot to death Friday near her Aladdin Drive home while walking her dog, Noriega’s sister Marilyn Helgeson wrote in a Facebook post.

Helgeson said the shooter had a pistol in each hand.

The shooting occurred about 8 a.m. in the 4100 block of Aladdin. Police said they found a man and a woman with gunshot wounds near the garages of the condo complex just off the street.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The woman died at a hospital.

Huntington Beach police spokeswoman Angela Bennett would not provide more details Monday about the shooting, though police have said they are investigating it as a murder-suicide.

Police have not disclosed the identities of the man or the woman, but over the weekend, friends and relatives took to social media to express shock and sadness over losing Noriega, a 62-year-old real estate agent who worked at Re/Max Terrasol in Huntington Beach. Friends said she is survived by two daughters and a son.

The Orange County Register reported that the man believed to be the shooter was Michael Busenburg, Noriega’s 78-year-old neighbor.

Busenburg’s sister Janet Englehardt, a Tustin resident, told the Register that her brother had been in pain following a medical procedure.

“He didn’t set out to kill,” Englehardt said. “It happened in the moment.”

Tom Bell, who owns property in the complex, said in an interview Friday that the two people killed in the shooting had ongoing issues.

“It was years of one little issue turning into another issue and escalating,” Bell said.

Re/Max Terrasol’s owner, Leo Betancourt, described Noriega on Monday as a pillar of the community and the real estate industry.

“She is the most loving, caring person I’ve ever met,” he said. “She conducted herself in the most professional manner possible. This was just a devastating blow to us, a shock. There’s not enough that can be said about her.”

Kristen Kindell of Huntington Beach said she met Noriega at an open house about six years ago. For a time, Noriega helped Kindell look for a home to buy, and when that didn’t happen, she helped her find an apartment to rent, Kindell said.

When Noriega traveled in Italy, she brought back some shot glasses for Kindell’s collection.

“She’s super sweet,” Kindell said. “I just can’t believe all this.”

Michelle Elliott of Huntington Beach said she became fast friends with Noriega about six months ago.

“She was very kind-hearted, very involved in her community,” Elliott said. “She would do anything for anyone. She loved to help people.”

Noriega’s family is planning a memorial for her from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Huntington Harbour Yacht Club, 3821 Warner Ave.

Staff writer Hannah Fry contributed to this report.

bradley.zint@latimes.com

Twitter: @BradleyZint