Woman shot to death, found on front lawn of Garden Grove home

GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (KABC) -- A woman was found shot to death on the front lawn of a Garden Grove home late Wednesday night.

Around 11 p.m., authorities responded to reports of shots fired in the 13500 block of Purdy Street. When officers arrived, they found a 31-year-old Kellie Nichol, of Trabuco Canyon, on a front lawn suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

Authorities pronounced Nichol dead at the scene.

During the preliminary investigation, authorities said the shooting may have resulted after two women got into a fight on the front lawn.

"They definitely knew each other, but we don't know why they were fighting," Lt. Bob Bogue with the Garden Grove Police Department said.

At some point, a man intervened in the fight, authorities said.

"All we know is that the female was visiting at this specific house. At some point, she came out of the house, confronted another female, they were engaged in some type of fight," Sgt. Richard Burillo with the Garden Grove Police Department said.

Police originally stated they believed the shooter to be a man, but later stated the suspect could be a man or a woman.

"I heard three guns shots, then a couple seconds after the shots, I heard somebody yelling down there, 'What'd you do man? What'd you do?' And then a couple seconds after that I heard, 'You better get out of here.' And then I heard the car door close," Randy Smith of Garden Grove said.

Neighbors said the area was usually quiet, but authorities said officers had responded to the specific home where Nichol was found 15 times in the last year.

"She was a nice, cool chick, she had some punk rock qualities to her," Tami Butcher of Garden Grove said. "She was someone's mom, she's going to be missed. Her family is just going to be devastated."

Lt. Robert Fowler said there were reports of people hanging out around the house and front lawn during the evening hours.

Authorities said there was surveillance video in the area, but investigators did not plan to release it to the public.

Anyone with more information was asked to call the Garden Grove Police Department at (714) 741-5800.