A respected California doctor and his wife were executed in their own garage by an unknown gunman who remains at large.
Story Highlights
- Dr. Eric Cortez, a 30-year veteran radiologist, and wife Vicki gunned down in targeted attack at Wood Ranch home
- Witnesses saw gunman exit black sedan and shoot couple multiple times in their garage before fleeing
- Police investigating connection to burnt car and deceased person found in Chino on same day
- Killer remains unidentified and at large despite active manhunt by multiple agencies
Targeted Execution Rocks Suburban Community
Dr. Eric Cortez and his wife Vicki were ambushed and shot multiple times in their Wood Ranch garage on Sunday afternoon, November 30, 2025. Witnesses reported seeing a man exit a black sedan, approach the couple, and open fire before fleeing the scene. The brazen daylight attack occurred in one of Simi Valley’s upscale residential communities, leaving neighbors shaken and struggling to process the violent deaths that shattered their sense of security.
Simi Valley police arrived to find both victims suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Despite being rushed to a local hospital, both Dr. Cortez and his wife were pronounced dead. The calculated nature of the attack suggests the perpetrator knew the couple’s routines and specifically targeted them, raising serious questions about the motive behind this brutal crime.
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Veteran Physician Lost After Three Decades of Service
Dr. Eric Cortez served as a board-certified radiologist at Adventist Health Simi Valley for nearly 30 years, earning respect throughout the medical community. His employer described him as “a beloved physician who served this community with compassion and excellence,” highlighting the significant loss to both the healthcare system and the broader Simi Valley community. The targeting of such a prominent medical professional has intensified the urgency of the investigation.
The loss of Dr. Cortez represents more than just a tragic crime—it’s the elimination of decades of medical expertise and community service. His long tenure in Simi Valley had made him a fixture in the local healthcare landscape, making his violent death all the more shocking to residents who knew him as a dedicated healer rather than someone who would attract such deadly violence.
Multi-Jurisdictional Investigation Reveals Disturbing Connections
The investigation took a sinister turn when Simi Valley police contacted their counterparts in Chino about a potentially related incident. Chino police confirmed they were investigating a black sedan that had been set on fire with a deceased person found next to the vehicle on the same day as the Cortez murders. This connection suggests the killer may have attempted to destroy evidence or eliminate witnesses as part of a broader criminal conspiracy.
Detectives from both departments are working to establish whether the Chino incident represents the killer’s attempt to cover their tracks or if it involves additional victims connected to the original crime. The coordination between multiple law enforcement agencies indicates the complexity of this case and the potential for additional criminal activity beyond the initial double homicide.
Sources:
Shooting deaths of Simi Valley doctor and his wife – CBS News Los Angeles
