Police Continue Search for Motive, Suspect in Death of Pregnant Teenager

Police said Tuesday that they have yet to establish a motive or identify a suspect in the Saturday night shooting that killed a 15-year-old girl and her fetus.

A male believed to be in his late teens or early 20s, sporting a shaved head and baggy clothing and standing about 5 feet 7 inches, was seen running through a field and then scaling a chain-link fence in the 2000 block of Wallace Avenue about 9 p.m., just moments after three bullets pierced a garage door. One bullet struck Yuridia “Judy” Balbuena as she and her family were about to eat dinner.

But it is not clear whether the male was involved in the shooting, Costa Mesa police said.

Yuridia was hit in the chest and she died several hours later at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach. Doctors tried but failed to save the 7-month-old fetus.

Police said a gunman could face two homicide counts, but the investigation is proving difficult because it remains unclear whether the shooter knew the victim was inside the windowless garage, which had been converted into an apartment.