SANTA ANA – Investigators say a woman who was killed Thursday night at a vigil for a man who was found dead the day before was a relative.

Trisha Irene Verdugo, 27, of Orange was hit by a car in a strip-mall parking lot by a driver with whom she’d gotten into an argument.

Family members set up a memorial with candles and balloons outside a vacant storefront on 17th Street and Grand Avenue. Santa Ana police say Verdugo had gathered with a group to remember Joseph Frank Garcia, 23, also of Orange, who was discovered Wednesday night lying face-down in the alley behind stores that include a shuttered Food 4 Less.

“She got into a verbal argument and for whatever reason the suspect hits her with the car,” police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said. “She flew some feet and he hit her again with the car and drove off.”

Bertagna said investigators still don’t know prompted the argument. Verdugo was pronounced dead at the scene and witnesses described the suspect’s car as a dark sedan.

On Friday evening, a handful of people gathered near the memorial. Some drove up quickly, dropped off candles and sped away. The words “RIP Playboy” were written in the concrete.

Garcia was shot multiple times in the upper torso. Though he had a history of drug-related offenses, he was not a documented gang member. It’s unclear if the deaths were fueled by any gang activity.

“Our big question is: why?” Bertagna said. “Why was he there?”

Santa Ana police ask anyone with information about either incident to call 714-245-8390. Anonymous tips can also be passed along to the Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-847-6227.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7802, jsudock@scng.com or via Twitter @jsudock