Maria Esther Gonzalez, 65, was killed on March 2, 2019, in the Chula Vista home she shared with her husband and her stepson, Norberto Sanchez. Prosecutors say an argument between Gonzalez and Sanchez escalated: Sanchez allegedly struck her multiple times in the head with a TV tray. Gonzalez reportedly raised her hands and arms to protect herself and suffered severe injuries, including a partially severed thumb. After the beating, Sanchez is said to have retrieved a firearm and shot Gonzalez four times, killing her.

Chula Vista police responded after Sanchez called his niece and confessed to the killing; he was arrested at a different location without incident. Neighbors described recurring conflicts in the household and portrayed Sanchez as unstable, saying minor issues could provoke him. Several firearms were recovered from the home; it was not immediately clear which, if any, was used in the shooting.

Anyone who knew Maria, the household, or observed tensions in that neighborhood around March 2, 2019, is asked to share information with investigators.