A 20-year-old woman died this Monday after being hit by a stray bullet during a gun attack on Fifth Street in the middle of a public street. The incident has shocked the community and rekindled the debate about the growing wave of gun violence affecting different parts of the country.
According to preliminary reports, the young woman, identified as Mariana Gómez, was walking through the area around 5:30 p.m. when a shootout broke out between a group of gunmen and a local merchant, who was allegedly the direct target of the attack. Within seconds, several explosions sowed chaos among passersby and residents of the area.
Mariana was shot in the abdomen while trying to take cover. She was immediately assisted by bystanders and taken to a medical center, where she died minutes later due to the severity of her wound.
The attacked merchant, approximately 45 years old, also died at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds. Police, who were patrolling nearby, reacted quickly and began a manhunt for the perpetrators, successfully capturing a minor who, according to initial investigations, is one of the perpetrators of the double homicide.
Colonel Jorge Medina, commander of the Metropolitan Police, offered a statement to local media:
“This is a regrettable incident that saddens us all. The young woman had no connection to the target of the attack; she was an innocent victim. Thanks to the timely response of our officers, we were able to arrest a 17-year-old boy who was carrying a firearm and has a record for illegal possession and attempted murder.”
The detainee was brought before the Children and Adolescents Prosecutor’s Office, and charges of aggravated homicide and illegal possession of a weapon are expected to be filed against him in the coming hours.
Mariana’s family, devastated by the news, is demanding justice and that her death not go unpunished. “She was just going to submit a resume; she wanted to find a job and help out around the house. Her life was taken for no reason; it’s not fair,” her mother said through tears.
Residents of the area demanded increased police presence and security cameras on the streets. The area, known for its commercial activity, has been the scene of several violent incidents in recent months, many of them related to extortion and criminal gang settling.
Civil organizations have called on authorities to implement more effective strategies for prevention, gun control, and citizen protection, especially in high-risk areas.
Mariana’s body will lie in state this Tuesday at the Santa Cruz Funeral Home in the San Vicente neighborhood, where family, friends, and acquaintances will pay their final respects. Her death adds to a growing list of innocent victims who pay the price of unchecked violence with their lives.