A tragedy shook the commune of La Pintana on Tuesday night, when a young mother, just 18 years old, lost her life after being hit by a stray bullet as she stood in the doorway of her home. The incident occurred in the middle of a shootout between rival gangs clashing on a public street.
The dramatic event was covered this morning on the morning show Contigo En La Mañana , where the testimony of the victim’s family and neighbors, who still have not come to terms with the loss, was shared. The young woman, identified as Florencia M., had been walking outside her home holding her baby when she was shot in the chest. Although she was rushed to Padre Hurtado Hospital, she sadly died minutes later.
“She just wanted to see if the baby could sleep better with some fresh air. No one expected the shooting to start right at that moment. It wasn’t for her. It wasn’t for anyone,” her mother, who witnessed the events, recounted through tears.
The victim, according to her family, was a dedicated, responsible young woman completely focused on raising her son, a baby boy just 9 months old. She had no criminal record or ties to criminal groups. Her death has sparked widespread outrage in the community and has once again brought the gun violence plaguing vulnerable sectors of the country to the forefront of debate.
The mayor of La Pintana, Claudio Orrego, expressed his regret and demanded that the government take concrete action to stem the wave of violence:
“Our neighborhoods can’t be turned into war zones where a young mother dies from a bullet that wasn’t even meant for her. This isn’t just insecurity, it’s neglect.”
The community of La Pintana has called for a vigil this afternoon in memory of Florencia, demanding justice and greater protection for its residents. With banners reading “No more stray bullets” and “We want to live in peace,” residents seek to highlight a reality that, although commonplace for many, continues to be ignored by the authorities.
Meanwhile, the victim’s young son remains in the care of his maternal grandmother, who has requested psychological support and assistance to help him cope with this painful moment. “The baby won’t understand now, but one day he’ll have to know that his mother died senselessly… and that no one protected her,” the grandmother said.
Florencia’s case reopens a deep wound in Chile: that of structural violence, impunity, and the lack of effective measures to protect innocent people in neglected neighborhoods. A young mother who dreamed of a peaceful future for her son ended up becoming another victim of a war she did not choose.