COSTA MESA : Fatal Shots Heard; Police Not Called

Residents living near a Victoria Street house in which a woman was found shot to death told police Tuesday that they had heard gunshots Sunday night but had not called authorities.

The 30-year-old woman’s body was found by a friend Monday. Police said she had bled to death.

“It just baffles me,” said Lt. John FitzPatrick. “That they heard shots (and didn’t call police) is really unbelievable. And it’s very unusual for this city. In most parts of the community, people are very conscious about a thing of this nature.”

Police said the neighbors questioned Tuesday heard the gunfire as well as screams.

Authorities said they don’t know if the woman, who was shot several times, would have lived if she had been found sooner.

The woman was not identified pending notification of relatives. Police said they did not know if she lived in the house in the 800 block of Victoria.

There were no signs of robbery and police have no suspects, FitzPatrick said.