Lemon Grove

A Lemon Grove restaurant owner was shot several times Thursday night as she was leaving the restaurant with the night’s receipts, a Sheriff’s Department spokesman said.

Lydija Bartziz, 39, owner of Lydija’s Restaurant in the 3500 block of Lemon Grove Avenue, was getting into her car outside the restaurant about 8:35 p.m. when a man approached her with a gun and opened fire, said Sgt. Roger Bohren.

Bartziz honked her car horn several times to summon help, Bohren said. He said the gunman fled the scene empty-handed.

Bartziz made her way back to the restaurant and called for help, Bohren said. She was listed in satisfactory condition Friday at Mercy Hospital after undergoing emergency surgery Thursday night, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

The assailant was being sought Friday by sheriff’s detectives, Bohren said.