Margarita Padilla was 18 and working at the San Ysidro McDonald’s in San Diego County on July 18, 1984, when James Huberty entered the restaurant armed with multiple firearms and opened fire. Over about 77 minutes Huberty killed 21 people and wounded 19 others; Padilla was one of the victims. The gunman was killed by a police sharpshooter at the scene.

The community held a communal requiem mass attended by family, friends and officials as they mourned the victims. Reports later noted Huberty had sought help for mental health problems days before the massacre but, because of a clerical error, his request was not escalated as urgent. The restaurant was eventually demolished and a memorial park established on the site.