A woman wrapping up her day as a vendor on the boardwalk in San Diego's Mission Beach community was shot in the back Monday night when gunfire erupted near Belmont Park.
The San Diego Police Department said shots were fired near the beachside amusement park on Mission Boulevard near West Mission Bay Drive and Ventura Place just after 9:30 p.m. on Labor Day.
The victim -- a 61-year-old woman -- suffered a gunshot wound to her back, police confirmed. Her name was not immediately released by investigators.
SDPD Officer John Buttle said the victim was taken to a local hospital. As of Tuesday morning, her condition was unknown.
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A friend of the victim told NBC 7 the woman was working a clothing booth along the boardwalk that's owned by the victim's daughter, who was off for the holiday. She was starting to pack up the booth for the day, loading an SUV, when shots were fired.
The friend, who asked not to be identified, said the victim was shot amid a flurry of nearly a dozen shots. The friend said she heard the victim yell, "I've been hit! I've been hit!" following the gunfire.
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Two vehicles in the parking lot had bullet holes in them after the shooting; bullet casings were strewn about the area.
The victim's friend said the victim comes to the boardwalk to help her daughter frequently and said she doesn't believe anyone would have a reason to target her.
NBC 7 spoke with another vendor, Kelley Sexton, who said she knows the victim because they see each other on the boardwalk all the time.
"We're all like family," she added.
Sexton said she and her husband were parked right next to the SUV that the victim was loading at the end of the day. Sexton’s car was hit twice by bullets, she said, and her driver’s side front window was shot out.
SDPD has not identified any suspects or a motive in the shooting. No one else was hurt.
The shooting occurred despite increased police presence in the Belmont Park area following two other recent shootings that injured bystanders.
The Mission Beach area, especially around Belmont Park, is a key spot for crowds -- both tourists and locals alike. Earlier in the day, the area had been packed with people enjoying their Labor Day.
