Investigators are working to determine the motive of the gunman who opened fire on a vehicle in Orange, killing a 24-year-old woman. Hetty Chang reports for the NBC4 News at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.
A woman in her 20s was shot and killed as she was driving Tuesday morning in a neighborhood in Orange.
Amber Nicole Parsons, 24, of Costa Mesa, was in a Honda SUV on Highland Street near Del Mar Avenue at about 12:30 a.m. when multiple rounds were fired into her vehicle.
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She died at the scene. A passenger in the SUV was not injured. The women are from Orange County, but do not have a residence in Orange, police said.
"We don’t have any information that they are from this neighborhood, and it's still under investigation what they were doing driving through here at 12:30 last night," said Lt. Phil McMullin, of the Orange Police Department.
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The passenger made one of the 911 calls, police said. Police are interviewing the woman and searching for security cameras that might have recorded the shooting.
Residents who live near the scene said that, although tragic, it isn't unusual for gun violence to take place in the neighborhood.
"Last night I was asleep and in the middle of the night, I heard someone shooting, but that happens here very often," said Emilio Valdez, who lives in the area.
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"I want to say I heard like 14 gunshots, 10 gunshots," said Reylin Luis, another resident of the neighborhood. "To be honest, if you can see, every corner on the ground is tagged up. This place is affiliated; it's nothing new, you know?"
The shooter left the scene on foot. A detailed description of the man was not immediately available.
Video from the scene showed the SUV with a shattered rear window and bullet holes on at least one side. Several evidence markers were placed near the SUV.
Anyone with information regarding the homicide was urged to call the department at 714-744-7571. Anonymous tips can be made to Orange County CrimeStoppers at 855-847-6227 or by visiting occrimestoppers.org.
