Off-duty Orange County sheriff's deputy fatally shoots roommate in Tustin, authorities say

TUSTIN, Calif. (KABC) -- A woman was shot and killed by her roommate, who apparently mistook her for an intruder, in Tustin on Friday. Her roommate is an Orange County sheriff's deputy who was off-duty at the time.

A cross and candles were placed near the apartments as a tribute to 35-year-old Brittany Shaw -- the woman authorities say was gunned down by her roommate.

"Shocking. It woke me up," said neighbor Richard Givens.

Givens said he heard several gunshots ring out above his apartment around 5 a.m. Friday.

"I stayed put in bed -- not knowing, just waking up from my sleep," Givens said. "This loud noise, wondering what that was, and I could hear somebody in distress."

The deadly shooting happened at the Axiom Apartments in the 13000 block of Tustin East Drive.

Tustin police who responded to the scene found Shaw with multiple gunshot wounds. She was taken to Orange County Global Medical Center, where she was later pronounced dead.

An Orange County Sheriff's Department spokesperson confirmed that the shooting involved an off-duty deputy.

"I saw them together quite frequently. You see your neighbors coming and going, and you say 'Hi.' I don't know what the status of their relationship was," Givens said.

Authorities say Shaw worked for the Orange County Health Care Agency and was living with the deputy. Her work involved inmates just booked into the jail system, Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner said.

According to county leaders, Shaw was walking her dog Friday morning, and when she came home, the deputy allegedly thought she was an intruder and shot the victim.

Health Care Agency Director Veronica Kelley sent a memo to staff Friday "with great sadness" about the death of Shaw, who worked for six years at the Intake Release Center.

Kelley said Shaw was the correctional health services chief.

"Her loss will be felt deeply by those who knew her throughout all levels of the HCA and the county family," Kelly wrote in the memo.

Eyewitness News spoke to neighbors about the apparent circumstances around the woman's death.

"It's kind of odd that your roommate would accidentally shoot you. First of all, your roommate should have known you. You're a roommate," said neighbor Gerry Geroca. "It's a little bit concerning."

"I feel for her family. No one's life is ever the same, getting such shocking news like that," Givens said. "It's just unfortunate."

The deputy has been placed on paid administrative leave while the investigation into the deadly shooting continues.

City News Service contributed to this report.