Officers in the area heard what they believed to be several gunshots from the area of 4th Street and Pacific Avenue around 2 a.m., according to a statement from the Long Beach Police Department.

They found that a woman, later identified as 24-year-old Long Beach resident Anna Perez, had been shot in her upper torso. When paramedics arrived, they determined Perez was dead at the scene, police spokeswoman Arantxa Chavarria said.

“The preliminary investigation suggests the shooting was the result of a verbal altercation in a parking lot between two groups of male and female adults,” the statement said.

Police do not believe Perez was part of either group, the statement said.

“The suspect was described by witnesses as an African-American male adult and was last seen leaving the area in an unknown color sedan,” police said.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact homicide detectives Shea Robertson and Oscar Valenzuela at (562) 570-7244.

Anonymous tips may be submitted through “LA Crime Stoppers” by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the “P3 Tips” app to your smartphone (available at the Apple App store and Google Play), or visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with additional information from police.