The investigation was focused on a white sedan that the victims were in. Three people, a female driver and two passengers, were in that car. Authorities say the rear male passenger died, while the front female passenger was injured and is expected to survive. The driver was not hurt.
According to California Highway Patrol Officer Joseph Davila, officers responded to a car-to-car shooting on the southbound 57 Freeway north of Pathfinder Road around 11 p.m. Tuesday. AIR7 HD was over the freeway where officers could be seen apparently picking up shell casings.
Police on Wednesday morning were still working to determine how exactly that shooting unfolded and why the victims ended up driving about 30 minutes away after being shot. The sedan apparently came to a stop in a residential area of Costa Mesa, just off the 55 Freeway. That's where investigators were focusing their efforts.
Officer Davila said another car was also hit by gunfire. Authorities believe the pickup got caught in the crossfire of that shooting and stopped in the Brea area.
Nobody inside that car was hurt, but both incidents are believed to be related.
The suspect vehicle was described as a dark-colored SUV, but additional details weren't available. A motive for the shooting is under investigation.