**Garden Grove and Stockton, California** — A devastating sequence of events unfolded on Thursday, July 17, 2025, culminating in a double tragedy that claimed the lives of 37-year-old Crystal Gonzalez and her 35-year-old husband, Miguel Lopez, leaving their two young children without parents. Authorities have linked the incidents to domestic violence, describing a murder in Garden Grove followed by an attempted murder-suicide in Stockton, over 350 miles apart.

The tragedy began just after 8:00 a.m. in Garden Grove, when a young girl, one of the couple’s two children, called 911, desperately requesting help for her mother. Garden Grove Police Department officers responded to a short-term rental home on the 11500 block of Morgan Lane, just south of Orangewood Avenue, less than a mile from Disneyland. Inside, they discovered Crystal Gonzalez, a resident of Lodi, deceased. The couple’s two children, whose ages have not been disclosed, were found unharmed but unaware of the full extent of the tragedy. There were no signs of forced entry at the residence, suggesting Lopez, Gonzalez’s husband, had access to the home.

Investigators identified Miguel Lopez as the suspect in Gonzalez’s death. Surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts confirmed he was seen leaving the Morgan Lane home early Thursday morning. Family members later reported that Lopez’s vehicle had been spotted in Stockton, over 300 miles north, prompting Garden Grove police to contact the Stockton Police Department.

In Stockton, shortly before 8:00 a.m., police responded to reports of a shooting at a CrossFit gym on the 800 block of West Eight Mile Road. There, they found two men with gunshot wounds. Miguel Lopez, identified as the shooter, was pronounced dead at the scene, having turned the gun on himself. The second victim, 54-year-old Robert Nelson, a part-owner of the gym, was rushed to a hospital in critical condition. A firearm was recovered at the scene, and Stockton police classified the incident as an attempted murder-suicide. Authorities noted that Lopez and Nelson knew each other, though the nature of their relationship remains unclear.

Lopez, a former California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer, had served at the Hayward Area office from March 2017, after completing the CHP Academy, before transferring to the Stockton Area office in April 2020. He left the department in August 2022 for undisclosed reasons. In a statement, the CHP expressed condolences and distanced itself from Lopez’s actions: “The alleged conduct of this former employee does not reflect the professionalism of the thousands of CHP members who pledge to provide the highest level of safety, service, and security to the people of California. The CHP extends its thoughts and prayers to the families and friends of those involved in this terrible tragedy.”

The two children, now in the care of relatives, are receiving support from child welfare services to address their emotional and psychological needs. Authorities have not released details about Gonzalez’s cause of death, pending an autopsy, nor have they confirmed whether the firearm used in the Stockton shooting was legally owned. Investigators are exploring Lopez’s motive, mental state, and any history of domestic violence or prior warning signs, though no criminal history for Lopez has been reported.

The communities of Garden Grove, Lodi, and Stockton are reeling from the shock of these events. Friends described Crystal Gonzalez as a devoted mother and kind-hearted woman, noting she may have been staying at the Garden Grove rental temporarily, possibly to distance herself from Lopez, though this has not been officially confirmed. In Lodi, neighbors expressed disbelief, describing Lopez as quiet and reserved.

Both police departments continue to investigate, seeking to piece together the sequence of events and uncover any underlying factors. The tragedy has sparked renewed calls for awareness about domestic violence and mental health crises, with advocates urging stronger support systems and interventions, particularly for former law enforcement personnel showing signs of distress.

A candlelight vigil is planned in Garden Grove to honor Crystal Gonzalez’s memory and support her surviving children. Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact the Garden Grove Police Department at (714) 741-5413.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).