Woman shot and killed on the way home from church in California

ESCONDIDO, CA (KTRK) -- A woman was caught in the middle of a gang shootout as she drove home from church, according to police.

Catherine Kennedy, 55, was driving home from St. Timothy Catholic Church in Escondido when she was hit in the head by a stray bullet.

"I heard boom boom boom boom, and I came running across the street to her. I checked her pulse," witness Barbara Allen tearfully told KFMB-TV. "She was gurgling and she was still alive. Then, then ambulance came and that was it."

In a news conference, Escondid police chief Craig Carter pledged to find Kennedy's killer.

"I'm extremely angry. This is a senseless death. This should not have happened," he said.

Police have already identified an apartment complex where they believe the violence originated. Investigators could be seen gathering evidence into Wednesday.