Man Found Dead in Car Had Been Shot

A 25-year-old man who was found dead Friday behind the wheel of a Cadillac which had crashed into the front of a North Hollywood building had been fatally shot--apparently after an argument at a nearby bar, Los Angeles police said.

The victim, whose name was not released pending notification of his family, was found at 2 a.m. by police who were answering reports of a loud noise in the 6400 block of Lankershim Boulevard. The officers saw the crashed Cadillac and found the man inside.

The officers initially thought the incident was a fatal vehicle crash, but then discovered the man had been shot in the chest before the car hit the building, Lt. Ron LaRue said.

Witnesses told police they saw several men drive away from the scene in a light-colored van about the time of the incident. LaRue said investigators believe the victim may have been involved in an argument with his killer inside the La Zona Rosa bar, which is nearby.

The victim was apparently driving out of a parking lot near the bar when he was shot. The car continued out of the lot and plowed into a building across the street.