Carolina Carrillo-Mendoza, 31, of Oakland was killed on October 18, 2021, in the Oakland hills on the 7800 block of Redwood Road. The killing at first appeared tied to a domestic dispute because her ex-boyfriend, Matias Mendoza, 21, was seen with her the day before and his vehicle was later identified at the scene. Surveillance showed two vehicles were involved, however, and investigators linked her death to the Sureño subset known as SSL-502.

Detectives say SSL-502 members feared Carrillo-Mendoza knew details about a triple homicide in Richmond months earlier and suspected she was dating rivals. She was shot execution-style between the eyes after being lured to a secluded area. Police records report Mendoza acknowledged gang membership and gave an account that conflicted with other evidence; later questioning by investigators produced additional leads implicating other alleged gang members.

Her death is connected by authorities to multiple homicides in the region tied to SSL-502. If anyone knew Carolina, her movements before October 18, 2021, or has information about SSL-502 activities in Oakland, please come forward.