Woman Found Dead Near Van Nuys Bar

A young woman was found dead of a gunshot wound in the parking lot of a Van Nuys sports bar Friday morning, authorities said.

Los Angeles police said they were unable to identify the woman, whose body was discovered about 7:30 a.m. by a man who lived close to The Dugout, a bar at 14032 Oxnard St.

The woman, who was in her mid-20s, was shot once in the head with a large-caliber weapon and struck on the head with a blunt object, said Detective Stephen Fisk. A coroner’s official estimated that the woman died between 2 and 7:15 a.m., but neighbors heard no shots during the night, he said.

Fisk said police have not determined a motive in the killing. Although the woman’s clothing was partially removed, there were no signs that she had been raped, he said.

The woman’ purse was not found at the scene, but investigators are unsure if the woman was robbed because they found money in her pocket, Fisk said.