52-year-old man dies after shooting in City Heights alley

San Diego police are investigating after a 52-year-old man was fatally shot in a City Heights alley early Monday, authorities said.

Several people called 911 shortly before 4:15 a.m. to report hearing gunshots in an alley off 35th Street near Orange Avenue, police said.

Officers found the victim in the alley suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. They provided emergency medical care, but the man died before he could be taken to a hospital.

“We are not sure at this point what led up to the shooting,” homicide Lt. Jud Campbell told OnScene TV. “We are very early in the investigation . ... We are talking to all the witnesses in the area and trying to figure out exactly what happened and what led up to the shooting.”

Campbell said police did not have a description of the shooter. No arrests have been made. Police know the victim’s identity but are not releasing his name, Campbell said.

OnScene video showed a police officer marking what appeared to be several bullet casings in the street.

Anyone with information about the shooting was asked to call homicide investigators at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.