Man who died in police pursuit was woman’s killer, deputies say

A search for a woman’s killer ended Monday night when an SUV slammed into a wall and burst into flames, killing the driver, authorities said.

The woman found shot to death in Tustin -- identified as 55-year-old Lahoma Ballester -- was killed by the father of her grandchild, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department said Tuesday.

The man, who has not been identified, killed himself hours later during a police chase when he drove his SUV directly into a wall in Anaheim and the vehicle burst into flames, authorities said.

Police across Orange County were on the lookout Monday for a white SUV believed to be involved in Ballester’s death after her body was discovered in a home in the 18400 block of Warren Avenue about 7 p.m.

Santa Ana police spotted an SUV matching the description a couple hours later and gave chase. The SUV slammed into a wall on North Rio Vista Street at East Frontera Street in Anaheim, killing the driver.

There was no evidence that the driver attempted to brake before the vehicle hit the wall, Orange County Sheriff’s Lt. Jeff Hallock said.

Investigators searched a home in Anaheim and found a gun they think was used to kill the woman, he added.

Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Department at (714) 647-7000.

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