Shooting Fatal to Motorist in Anaheim

A 22-year-old man died early Monday after he was shot several times in the chest and then drove his car into a Lincoln Avenue storefront, police said.

Police arrived at what they thought was a traffic accident at 1228 E. Lincoln Ave. at 12:07 a.m. and found the victim unconscious in the car, with several gunshot wounds to his chest, Sgt. Thomas Lahmon said.

Police withheld the identity of the man pending notification of relatives. Lt. Vince Howard said the victim was from Mexico, but investigators were uncertain how long he had been in the United States and said they do not believe that he had established a permanent residence here.

The victim was treated at the scene by paramedics and then taken to UCI Medical Center, where he died, police said.

Witnesses said the man and a passenger had been parked in a Chrysler Cordoba at the rear of a shopping center at 1287 E. Lincoln Ave. when he was accosted by several people who opened fire, shooting him several times.

The victim attempted to drive away but crashed into the storefront of the Crown Imperial Monument Co. about a block away, damaging several desks and grave markers, owner Paul M. Watro said. The shop specializes in grave markers.

“The whole front of the building is gone,” Watro said. “He must have come through here at 50 m.p.h.”

The victim’s male passenger, whom police also refused to identify, was not injured in the crash or the shooting. He is not considered a suspect in the attack, Howard said.

Police, still trying to determine why the man was shot, had not announced any suspects by late Monday.

It was also unclear who owned the car that the victim was driving.