The reports regarding this incident are accurate. An 18-year-old man was fatally shot on the night of Tuesday, May 19, 2026, during a violent physical confrontation in the parking lot of a Walmart in east Chula Vista, California.
The Chula Vista Police Department (CVPD) arrested a suspect at the scene shortly after the shooting took place.
Details of the Incident
According to Chula Vista Police logs and field investigators, the fatal shooting transpired late Tuesday evening:
The Location: Police were dispatched at approximately 10:32 PM following reports of gunfire in the commercial parking lot of the Walmart located in the 1300 block of Eastlake Parkway.
The Dispute: Preliminary findings from homicide detectives indicate that the 18-year-old victim and an older man became involved in a mutual physical fight in the parking lot.
The Shooting: As the physical struggle escalated, the older man allegedly pulled a holstered firearm from his waistband and fired a single shot, striking the teenager in the chest.
Arrest and Victim Status
The Victim: Responding police officers arrived to find the 18-year-old suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound and immediately initiated emergency life-saving measures. Paramedics rushed the young man to Scripps Mercy Hospital, but he tragically succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased. Because he is a teenager, his name is currently being withheld by the San Diego County Medical Examiner pending formal notification of his extended family.
The Suspect: Immediately after the shot was fired, the suspect placed a call to 911 himself. He remained at the scene and waited for law enforcement to arrive. Police identified the man as 32-year-old Thomas Perez of Chula Vista. Perez was detained without incident, interviewed by detectives, and subsequently booked into the San Diego County Jail on a formal charge of first-degree murder.
The Chula Vista Police Department’s Homicide Unit is actively continuing its investigation, reviewing store surveillance footage and interviewing parking lot witnesses to determine what sparked the initial fight.
You can review this Chula Vista Walmart shooting report to see the initial broadcast updates from local media regarding the arrest of Thomas Perez.
