According to neighbors, the homicide was a result of a break-in. This neighborhood is popular for burglaries and people often wonder the near-by hills.
For 14 hours, homicide investigators were inside the home on the 2500 block of Spring Drive, where an 80-year-old woman was found shot to death on Sunday afternoon.
"OK so where can I move, because this is a quiet neighborhood and to think that something like that has happened, it's scary, it's really, really scary," neighbor Cheryl Hightower said.
As far as a motive, investigators say they don't have one, but neighbors think they do.
"I've been burglarized twice in my home when I am gone. I had to install safety doors now and this is not safe at all," neighbor Joe Caloca said.
Investigators say there are some signs of a break in, but also that a number of small valuable items that a burglar would be inclined to take were left behind.
The woman lived alone, so there's no one to say if anything is missing. Ondrietta Johnson knows a bit about the victim.
"I walk my dogs mostly every day, so I'd see her. She liked to garden, very clean cut, kept a tidy home, you know, quiet to herself and in good shape," she said.
Muhammad Irfan and family live nearby as well. He's heard stories of police chases through backyards.
"They told me that they saw someone running, going through the houses and it's really scary because I have kids and my mom who stays at home most of the time," he said.
For next door neighbor Jessica Coker, it's time to be more vigilant.
"Kind of make sure your doors are locked and your windows are locked. What else can you do? I mean clearly someone tricked her into letting them in her home or whatever happened," she said.
Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call investigators at (510) 293-7034.
This is Hayward's 11th homicide in 2010.
