A Chula Vista woman was killed and a man injured in a car-to-car shooting Sunday night near Steiner Drive and Higgins Street, police said, and investigators are asking neighbors to review home security footage as they work to determine a motive.
What police say happened
Officers responded after hospital staff notified them that two people had arrived with gunshot wounds shortly after 8:45 p.m. Witnesses at the scene told investigators they heard between six and nine shots, followed by the sound of two vehicles speeding away, according to Chula Vista police.
The driver, described by authorities as a 36-year-old Chula Vista man, told investigators he had pulled to the curb on Steiner Drive near Higgins when another vehicle pulled alongside and someone fired several rounds into his car. The man, despite suffering multiple gunshot wounds, drove himself and his passenger to a nearby hospital.
The passenger, a 28-year-old Chula Vista woman, was struck once and later died at the hospital. Police have not released her name pending notification of next of kin. The man who drove the car remained hospitalized and was described as stable.
Police investigation and community request
Authorities are withholding additional details as they continue to investigate the shooting.
"The motive and circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation,"police said.
Investigators asked residents who live in the area of Paseo Ladera and Steiner Drive to review any home security camera, doorbell camera or dashcam footage that may have captured the incident or vehicles leaving the area. Anyone with information is being encouraged to contact the San Diego County Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 888-580-8477.
- Location: Steiner Drive near Higgins Street, Chula Vista (near Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center)
- Time reported: shortly after 8:45 p.m.
- Victims: 28-year-old woman (deceased), 36-year-old man (wounded, hospitalized)
- Witness reports: six to nine gunshots; two vehicles heard speeding away
Local context and implications
The shooting took place a short distance from Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center in a residential area where families and commuters cross local streets during evening hours. Incidents of gun violence can reverberate through neighborhoods, prompting concerns about public safety, school commutes and use of shared public space. Police appeals for camera footage underline how investigators increasingly rely on community-recorded video to establish timelines, identify vehicles and locate potential witnesses.
Chula Vista police did not provide a description of the suspect vehicle or suspects involved. No arrests were announced as of Monday. The department has not identified a known motive.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday night (reported shortly after 8:45 p.m.) |
| Location | 1300 block of Steiner Drive near Higgins Street |
| Victim ages | 28 (female, deceased) and 36 (male, wounded) |
| Witness reports | 6–9 shots; two vehicles speeding away |
| Police request | Home and doorbell camera footage; Crime Stoppers tip line 888-580-8477 |
Police investigators are continuing to follow leads and have asked anyone with relevant footage or information to come forward. Those who live or travel near Steiner Drive, Higgins Street or Paseo Ladera and who may have been in the area Sunday evening are asked to check their devices and contact authorities if they observed anything unusual.
This remains an active investigation; additional details will be released by Chula Vista police as they become available.
