Isaac Lopez, 19, of Vacaville, California, was killed on May 13, 2018, in a parking lot near the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. The shooting occurred about 6:40 p.m. while Lopez sat in a parked car with three friends, including 18-year-old Javier Calvo. A pistol in the vehicle discharged and struck Lopez in the chest. He was taken to Dominican Hospital and pronounced dead that evening.

Santa Cruz police initially treated the incident as a potential homicide but later determined the shooting was likely accidental. Officers recovered a loaded handgun and extra ammunition from the vehicle. Javier Calvo was arrested and booked on a charge of involuntary manslaughter, with bail set at $250,000; investigators continued processing evidence and interviewing witnesses to clarify how Calvo obtained the firearm and the circumstances of the discharge.

The shooting was the first homicide reported in Santa Cruz that year and occurred near a heavily monitored tourist area with security staff and many closed-circuit cameras. If anyone was in or near the Boardwalk parking area that evening or has information about the weapon or those present, please come forward.