The officers scrambled.
Click in the Eyewitness News Story Window above to watch Rob Hayes' report from the scene.
"They immediately rendered first aid, got medical assistance for the person, got them transported into a hospital, which was only a block away, and the victim expired in the emergency room," said Lt. John Chandler, Placentia Police Department.
Investigators have not determined whether the victim was driving the SUV or was just a passenger, but the two men who flagged down police were in the SUV with him.
The victim has only been identified as a 44-year-old man.
Police said shots were fired just after 11 p.m. near the intersection of La Jolla Street and Avenida de Pio Pico, several miles away from where officers found the victim.
"It is one of our neighborhoods that is claimed by one of our gangs, but we don't have any information that this shooting is particularly gang-related. It just happened to take place at that location," Chandler said.
Police have not determined a motive and are canvassing the neighborhood to find witnesses. Anyone with information is urged to call the Placentia Police Department at (714) 993-8164.