Photo: Stock Image
SAN DIEGO – Late in the evening of October 28, 2022, San Diego Police received a “report of death” in the Grove Avenue area. When officers arrived on scene in the 2300 block of Grove Avenue, they found a Hispanic male and a Hispanic female deceased in an apartment, both with apparent gunshot wounds. A firearm was also located on the premises.
Law enforcement were able to identify the deceased male as the apartment’s resident, 20 year old Manuel Valenzuela Jr. The female victim was identified Valenzuela’s girlfriend, 16 year old Abigail Lugo Lopez of San Diego.
The preliminary investigation led by Homicide Detectives spoke to witnesses at the scene. The witnesses claim that they heard gunshots fired in the apartment. A short time later one of Valenzuela’s family members discovered the bodies after entering the apartment. There were multiple calls to police to report the incident. After speaking to witnesses and examining the scene it appears that Valenzuela was the one who shot and killed Lopez and then himself.
The investigation is ongoing as it unknown what motivated this violent murder suicide. Anyone with information should contact the Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
