Gang Member Arrested in Case of Woman Killed in Cross Fire
A 19-year-old Southeast San Diego man has been arrested in the fatal shooting of a National City woman caught in cross fire between rival gangs when she picked up her daughter at a graduation party.
Michael Mendoza was arrested shortly before 9 p.m. Friday and is being held in the downtown County Jail on suspicion of murder, according to National City police, adding that Mendoza has been identified as a gang member.
Maria Acosta, 42, was shot about 10:30 p.m. Thursday while parked in her car outside a house in the 900 block of Bucky Lane, where her 15-year-old daughter was at a party attended by about 100 young people. Earlier in the day, her daughter had graduated from Granger Junior High School.
While Acosta, a part-time employee at El Toyon School, waited for her daughter, gunfire broke out between rival San Diego and National City street gangs, police said. One shot struck Acosta in the head. She died at the UCSD Medical Center.
Two other people were treated for gunshot wounds at area hospitals Thursday night and released.
National City police said Saturday that their investigation is continuing.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
