Anaheim

Woman found shot, dead inside a car in Anaheim identified

She had apparent gunshot wounds, police said. 

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Neighbors in the quiet Anaheim area said they are shaken up by the murder case. Camilla Rambaldi reports for the NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.

Orange County authorities Wednesday identified a woman who was shot and killed inside a car in Anaheim.

The woman, who was found dead inside a car near Cypress and Vine streets, is 48-year-old Charlene Lynn Zuazo of Anaheim, the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner said.

Police believe shots first rang out Tuesday at around 8 p.m. near Cypress and Vine Streets. Then the woman ended up crashing her car in the area Wilhelmina and Vine streets -- half a mile from the initial shooting scene.

The investigation had initially started a couple of blocks away at Wilhelmina and Vine streets Tuesday night, with a report of a car crash. 

Neighbors said they were shaken up by the deadly shooting.

"it’s a pretty quiet neighborhood," said Manuel Lomeli, a long-time resident of the area. "For something like this to happen it’s surreal."

A man who identified himself as a friend of Zuazo said the victim was survived by two daughters.

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"She was a giving person. Very giving," Victor Bacerra said. "I’ve known her for about 12 years, and she was a type of person that if she was going to do something, she would follow through with. You can always count on her."

It was immediately clear what led to the deadly shooting. No suspects were identified.

"A very tragic situation for this victim and her family," Sgt. Matt Sutter with the Anaheim Police Department said. "I can assure you detectives will complete a thorough investigation and come up with a resolution and bring this case to justice."

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