Liz Noriega, aged 62, tragically lost her life on December 15, 2017, in Huntington Beach, California. Her death was the result of a murder-suicide incident involving her neighbor, Michael Busenburg, a 78-year-old retired photographer. The incident occurred in the 4100 block of Aladdin Drive in the Huntington Harbour Marina area. On the morning of the incident, Huntington Beach officers responded to reports of a shooting and found both Noriega and Busenburg with gunshot wounds outside their condominium complex. Noriega was transported to a local hospital where she succumbed to her injuries, while Busenburg was pronounced dead at the scene.
The motive behind the shooting was linked to Busenburg's despondency over a recent surgical complication. According to his sister, Janet Englehardt, Busenburg had been experiencing significant pain following a medical procedure on his intestines. This pain, coupled with an ongoing dispute with Noriega, may have led to the tragic event. Englehardt mentioned that her brother did not intend to kill but acted impulsively in the moment. Friends and family of both individuals expressed shock and disbelief over the incident, describing Noriega as a caring and giving person who was not expected to be involved in such a tragedy.
The investigation into the murder-suicide revealed that Busenburg and Noriega had a contentious relationship, although the exact nature of their disputes was not fully detailed by the authorities. At the time of the shooting, Busenburg was on the phone with a friend in Michigan, who heard the gunshots and immediately contacted Englehardt. The police found a weapon at the scene and confirmed that they were not looking for any additional suspects. The case was treated as a closed investigation, with no further arrests or litigations reported in connection to the deaths of Liz Noriega and Michael Busenburg.
