Tustin Man, 26, Shot to Death at His Home

A 26-year-old upholsterer was shot to death on the doorstep of his home, authorities said Thursday.

Police officers responding to a 911 call late Wednesday in the 1100 block of San Juan Street found Fernando M. Lopez lying unconscious and bleeding from a gunshot wound to the head, Sgt. Mike Pettifer said.

Investigators said Lopez’s girlfriend found him lying in the bushes near the entrance of his rented home when she arrived about 11:25 p.m. She pounded on the door for help, and Lopez’s roommates called 911, police Lt. Frank Semelsberger said.

Witnesses told police they had heard “a popping noise” between 10 and 10:30 p.m., Semelsberger said.

The killing does not appear to be gang- or drug-related, and Lopez was not robbed, Pettifer said. Police have no suspect and no murder weapon.

The incident occurred a few feet from the C.C. Lambert Tustin High School Annex in a neighborhood where “nothing ever happens,” said Cindy Ault, who lives in a gated community across the street from Lopez but did not know him.

“It’s pretty quiet here,” Ault said. “I was walking my dog this morning and heard about it through a neighbor, I didn’t even know what had happened, I was shocked.”

Lopez had been working at Creations by Jasmine, an upholstery shop in Tustin, Semelsberger said. Investigators believe his family lives in Mexico.