2 Die, 2 Hurt When Shots Fired Into Bar

A woman and one man were killed and two other men injured in a shooting at a bar early Saturday morning, leaving police searching for a suspect and a motive.

About 12:10 a.m., gunfire broke out at the California Inn, a small bar at 11717 Victory Blvd. filled with about 30 patrons.

Witnesses told police they glimpsed a man who stood in the front doorway, pointed a handgun and started shooting.

Virginia Chavez, 25, of North Hollywood, was sitting at a table a few inches from the entrance when she was struck, according to Det. Mike Coffey of the Los Angeles Police Department. Chavez died at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds.

After shooting Chavez, the gunman continued to fire, hitting three others.

A 27-year-old North Hollywood man, struck in the torso, was taken to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, where he died about 4:30 a.m. His name was withheld Saturday pending notification of kin.

Another man, 23, was also taken to a local hospital, where he was listed in critical condition with gunshot wounds to the torso.

A 22-year-old man escaped serious injury when a bullet grazed his head. He was treated at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center and released.

Both injured men are from North Hollywood. Authorities did not release their names.

Police said that in the mayhem, witnesses did not get a clear look at the gunman, so investigators had little information to describe him other than speculation that he is slightly built and in his 20s.

The gunman ran from the scene. Coffey said it was uncertain if he used a car to get away.

Police had few clues as they tried to determine a motive for the shooting, according to Coffey. The early investigation focused on the possibility that Chavez was the intended target.

“If the shooting is not related to her somehow, then we have no idea at this point what the motive is,” said Coffey, noting that detectives don’t know why Chavez would be targeted.

Coffey said investigators had concluded the shooting was not gang-related nor an attempted robbery.