Miguel Lopez-Cuen Obituary, Death News – A 54-year-old man who was critically injured in a shooting near a Stockton gym has died, according to police. The incident is part of a broader investigation involving a suspected murder-suicide and is connected to a separate homicide case in Southern California.
The shooting took place on the morning of July 17 in the 800 block of West Eight Mile Road, near the Elkhorn Athletic Club. Officers from the Stockton Police Department were dispatched at approximately 7:58 a.m. following reports of gunfire in the area. Upon arrival, police discovered two men suffering from gunshot wounds and also recovered a firearm at the scene.
One of the men, identified as 35-year-old Miguel Lopez-Cuen, was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities later confirmed that Lopez-Cuen, a former California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer, was the suspected shooter. The second man, who has not yet been officially identified, was transported to a hospital in critical condition and later succumbed to his injuries.
According to investigators, Lopez-Cuen and the victim knew each other. Police believe the shooting was not random, and the motive remains under investigation. The tragic event has since been linked to a separate homicide in Orange County, California.
In Garden Grove, officers responded to a welfare check at a residence on Morgan Lane after receiving a call from a concerned daughter, who reported her mother might be in danger. Upon entering the home, police discovered the body of a woman identified as Crystal Gonzales, Lopez-Cuen’s wife. Two juveniles were also present at the scene but were unharmed. They told police they were unaware of what had happened. The property appeared to be a short-term rental, and no signs of forced entry were found.
Lopez-Cuen was not at the residence when officers arrived. Investigators launched a manhunt and were alerted by relatives that his vehicle had been located in Stockton. That information led to coordination between the Garden Grove and Stockton police departments and confirmed Lopez-Cuen’s involvement in the Stockton shooting.
The California Highway Patrol later released a statement acknowledging that the shooting involved a former CHP officer. The agency expressed condolences to those affected and emphasized that the actions of Lopez-Cuen do not represent the values of the department. CHP confirmed that Lopez-Cuen had served in the Hayward office beginning in March 2017 and later transferred to Stockton in April 2020. He left the department in August 2022.
This tragic case has added to Stockton’s 2025 homicide tally. As of Wednesday, the city has reported 21 homicides so far this year, down from 32 during the same period last year.
Authorities continue to investigate the full circumstances behind both the Stockton shooting and the death of Crystal Gonzales in Garden Grove. Police are urging anyone with relevant information to come forward as they piece together the events leading to this string of deadly incidents.
