Clairemont resident Estella Martinez thought her 15-year old daughter was asleep in her bed when she was awakened Friday by a knock on her door.
Homicide detectives were the ones knocking and they had devastating news. Her daughter, Joanna Vargas was shot and killed in Lindbergh Park.
The junior at James Madison High School was with her boyfriend and another couple in the park around 1:15 a.m. Friday.
Martinez, who was crying hysterically Friday morning after hearing the news, told local television reporters that she had no idea her daughter even had a boyfriend.
Neighbors reported hearing fighting, a gunshot and a person crying from the neighborhood park located just west of I-805 and south of Balboa Avenue.
San Diego homicide detectives are taking their statements and looking into those reports.
Paramedics arrived but Vargas was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detectives say they don't know where the shot came from. Right now police are trying to figure out if the gunshot came from the group inside the park or from another location.
“We're open-minded to both possibilities at this point. We just don't know, if it came from a distance away. If it came from the vehicle or if it came from within the park," said Lt. Kevin Rooney with SDPD Homicide.
The boyfriend and the other couple are being questioned but are not considered suspects, police said.
Detectives are also following up on reports of a white SUV seen in the area at the time the fatal shot was fired.
Police have Ashford Street shut down from Eckstrom Avenue to Marlesta Drive as part of the investigation.
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