Woman Arrested in Killing of Obdulia Sanchez, Who Livestreamed Sister's Death

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A 27-year-old woman named Monica Barajas has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder in the December 2 shooting of Obdulia Sanchez, who gained notoriety in 2017 for livestreaming a car crash that killed her sister. Sanchez was shot and killed in Stockton, California, while another victim survived the shooting. Authorities have not released a suspected motive for the attack.

Why it matters

Obdulia Sanchez's 2017 livestream of a deadly car crash that killed her sister made national headlines and sparked conversations around the dangers of distracted and impaired driving, as well as the ethics of sharing such traumatic content online. Her death in a suspected shooting raises further questions about the challenges Sanchez faced after serving time in prison for the 2017 incident.

The details

According to authorities, on December 2, 2026, San Joaquin County sheriff's deputies responded to reports of a shooting on Gertrude Avenue in Stockton. They found Obdulia Sanchez and another victim with gunshot wounds. Sanchez died from her injuries, while the other victim survived. After months of investigation, deputies arrested 27-year-old Monica Barajas on suspicion of murder and attempted murder in connection with the shooting. Officials have not released a suspected motive for the attack.

• On December 2, 2026, San Joaquin County sheriff's deputies responded to a shooting on Gertrude Avenue in Stockton.
• On Thursday morning, authorities arrested Monica Barajas, 27, on suspicion of murder and attempted murder in the December 2 shooting.

What’s next

Barajas is due for a court appearance on Monday afternoon.