Woman Shot Dead in Possible Attempted Carjacking in Koreatown

By Dana Cruz First Posted: Jan 10, 2021 04:36 AM EST

(Photo : fsHH from Pixabay )

A woman was shot dead overnight in Koreatown early Saturday in what police believe is an attempted carjacking incident.

The woman shot dead during this incident was said to be 38-years-old who also had her dog with her at the time of the attack, reported CBS Los Angeles.

Her dog was also wounded it the Koreatown attack but is expected to be fine after being rushed to the vet.

She was said to have visited a friend in the Koreatown area but resides in the Los Angeles are, according to the police.

The woman shot dead during this incident appeared to have sustained her injuries around 1:10 a.m. that Saturday at the corner of Mariposa Avenue and Council Street, Los Angeles Police Department reported to KTLA.

ABC 7 said in a report that police arrived at the scene of the crime as the woman was being treated by good Samaritans despite being unresponsive.

The victim's name was initially unknown but was later on identified by the Los Angeles County coroner's office as Katherine McNally. The friend she was visiting said she was a loving person who will be missed.

Police Believe Woman Shot Dead After Attempt to Rob, Steal Her

A report from NBC Los Angeles said the woman was walking with her dog towards the vehicle when the suspect came near and shot her, as stated by Officer Rosario Cervantes of the LAPD's Media Relations Section.

Police are currently working under the assumption that someone was trying to rob or steal her car during that early hour, but they ultimately opted to kill her instead.

It is said that the suspect was a man in his 20s and was wearing dark-colored clothing.

He fled the scene on foot southbound on Mariposa Avenue and still remains at large.

Investigators still don't have a clear picture about the happening that led to the woman's death in the quite Koreatown street.

"We're still investigating this, and we don't know exactly how this started," LAPD Lt. John Radtke said.

However, police were thinking that if the attack happened as she was in her car does support their guess that it was part of a carjacking attempt.

"This is a terrible crime," Radtke said. "This is egregious. We need to catch this person."

Police Ask for Help in Finding Suspect in Koreatown Shooting

It is unclear if the shooter had any other possible motives for committing the crime aside from the failed carjacking.

Until the suspect becomes known, the LAPD urged anyone with information about the shooter to contact their West Bureau homicide unit at (213) 382-9470. This includes eyewitnesses or even someone with security tape of the street at the time.

People can also call 1-877-LAPD-24-7 during non-business hours or weekends or call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

This gruesome crime came a day after police started searching for a hit-and-run driver who fatally struck a man crossing the street in Koreatown Friday morning.

The crime also happened in the early hours of Friday just east of Normandie Avenue, the LAPD said.

Investigators say the man was likely crossing the street outside of a crosswalk when he was struck and killed.

The hit-and-run victim was a Latino man, possibly in his 20s.