 |
Happier times: Perla Avina, 30, was traveling home with her husband, Mando Lopez, in East Oakland, California when they got into 'some type of confrontation' with another driver. Above, Mrs Avina and Mr Lopez.
|
A mother of four has been shot dead in an alleged road rage attack as her husband drove her home from a California supermarket.
Perla Avina, 30, was traveling in a black 1998 Toyota Camry with her partner, Mando Lopez, when they got into 'some type of confrontation' with another driver in East Oakland.
The unidentified motorist then allegedly fired at the vehicle, causing a bullet to pierce the windscreen on the passenger side and strike Ms Avina in the face.
As the driver sped off, Mr Lopez reportedly pulled over at the 400 block of Rossmoor Avenue in Brookfield Village neighborhood, before putting pressure on his wife's face and crying: 'Wake up!'
Meanwhile, resident Dwayne Jackson, who heard the commotion, rushed outside and dialed 911. He reportedly attempted to perform first aid on Ms Avina, but she remained unconscious.
'I didn't see any signs of life. There was no waking [her] up,' Mr Jackson told NBC.
Paramedics arrived at the scene within minutes of the shooting between the 400 and 600 blocks of 98th Avenue. But despite their best efforts, Ms Avina was pronounced dead in the Camry.
Smashed glass: The unidentified driver allegedly fired at the black 1998 vehicle, causing a bullet to pierce the car's windscreen on the passenger side (pictured) and strike Ms Avina in the face. The driver then sped off
Tragic: Ms Avina (left and right), a medical receptionist who is believed to originally be from Los Angeles, and Mr Lopez have four children, the youngest of whom is just one-and-a-half years old, authorities said
Police later said the motivation for the shooting was likely road rage, with a spokesman saying: 'Road rage may have possibly occurred It is extremely dangerous. In this case it turned deadly.'
Ms Avina, a medical receptionist who is believed to originally be from Los Angeles, leaves behind four children, the youngest of whom is just one-and-a-half years old, authorities said.
None of the children were in the car at the time of the shooting, KTVU.com reported.
Yesterday afternoon, Mr Jackson described Ms Avina as the 'heart' of the family, saying: 'She made the family work, with the kids, and school and working.'
Drawing a crowd: Police said the motivation for the shooting was likely road rage. Above, people surround the damaged car at the 400 block of Rossmoor Avenue in Brookfield Village neighborhood following the attack
And last night, the victim's grief-stricken parents, Jose and Herlinda Avina, said finding their daughter's killer is the only thing that could slightly ease their 'inconsolable pain'.
This was a beautiful young woman with four young children and there was no reason for it. This never should have happened-
Darlene Cederborg, Avina's manager
'If [anyone] knows the person who did this, please turn him in. Turn him into the police, please, please, help us,' said Mrs Avina through sobs.
Darlene Cederborg, Ms Avina's manager at the Emeryville medical clinic she worked at, added that her employee was a 'shining spirit' who 'always had a smile on her face'.
'This was a beautiful young woman with four young children and there was no reason for it. This never should have happened,' she said.
Oakland police are offering a $30,000 reward - increased from an original $20,000 - for information on the suspect, who has not yet been caught following the incident shortly after 12.30pm on Sunday.
Grief-stricken: This evening, Ms Avina's grief-stricken parents, Jose and Herlinda Avina (pictured together), said finding her killer is the only thing that could slightly ease their inconsolable pain
Paying tribute to a dedicated mother: Resident Dwayne Jackson (pictured), who heard the commotion, rushed outside and dialed 911. He said Ms Avina was the 'heart' of her family, saying: 'She made the family work'
No comments:
Post a Comment