On June 11, 2023, 23-year-old Ashley Waters was fatally shot in Manteca, California. She had recently moved to Stockton and was in Manteca to pick up her boyfriend from his shift at Rite Aid. While waiting in her car near the 1300 block of West Yosemite Avenue, she was approached by individuals who demanded her car keys and wallet. In an attempt to escape, Waters drove away but was struck by gunfire. She managed to drive a short distance to a nearby Planet Fitness, where she sought help but ultimately succumbed to her injuries.
The suspects involved in the shooting were linked to a crime spree that began earlier that day with a carjacking in Oakland. They had stolen a 2007 gray Toyota Camry, which was later identified as the vehicle used in the Manteca shooting. Following the homicide, law enforcement issued alerts to locate the suspects. In the early hours of June 12, Alameda County Sheriff's deputies spotted the stolen Camry on Interstate 880 near Hayward. A high-speed pursuit ensued, during which the suspects exited the freeway and sped through San Leandro. San Leandro police deployed tire deflation devices in an attempt to stop the vehicle. The driver swerved to avoid the devices but lost control, crashing head-on into a tree near Davis and Preda streets. The car caught fire upon impact.
Tragically, the two male occupants in the front seats were unresponsive and could not be rescued before the vehicle was engulfed in flames. A 14-year-old girl in the back seat was pulled from the wreckage by deputies and transported to a hospital for treatment. A firearm was recovered from the vehicle, though it remains unclear if it was the weapon used in the Manteca shooting. The identities of the deceased suspects were not immediately released, and investigations are ongoing to determine their connection to the earlier crimes.
Ashley Waters was remembered by her family as a kind-hearted individual who had recently moved in with her boyfriend and was looking forward to their future together. Her untimely death has left her family and the community in mourning. A vigil was held in front of the Planet Fitness where she sought help, with friends and family gathering to honor her memory.
