Navy: Sailor dies after gunshot on San Diego ship

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Navy says a sailor has died at a hospital after being discovered with a gunshot wound aboard a San Diego-based ship.

Navy spokesman Rick Chernitzer says the 19-year-old woman was found shot aboard the Amphibious Assault Ship Essex and taken Thursday to the trauma center at the University of California, San Diego where she was pronounced dead.

U-T San Diego reports (http://bit.ly/11luWKm ) the Navy has not said whether the gunshot wound was self-inflicted or if any suspects are in custody.

Chernitzer says an investigation is being conducted, and the woman's name has not been released because relatives had not been notified.

He said in a statement that the Navy was saddened by the loss of its sailor and extended condolences to her family.

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Information from: U-T San Diego, http://www.utsandiego.com