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How did it happen? Monica Bodden found out more:...

Monica Bodden reporting
27 year old Gayle Escarpeta - an employee of Youth For the Future -was shot and killed early Saturday morning - It happened a little after 2:30am - while Escarpeta was travelling in a white Mazda Tribute along with her boyfriend.

Their vehicle came under attack by 4 gunmen in a green car. Escarpeta was shot three times - two to the right arm and one to the right armpit.

She was rushed to the KHMH by her boyfriend but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Raphael Martinez - Police Press Officer
"On Saturday 3rd November at approximately 3:00 in the afternoon police visited the Karl Huesner Memorial Hospital where they say the body of 27 year old Gayle Escarpeta, computer program assistant at Youth for the Future and a resident of 7657 Price Street in the Faber's Road area in Belize City was seen with 3 apparent gunshot wounds; two to the right arm and one to the right arm pit."

"Initial investigations reveal that at approximately 2:30 on the 3rd November Ms. Escarpeta was along with a male companion traveling in a white Mazda on George Street when they were approached by a green car reportedly with 4 male occupants inside. They reportedly fired several shots in the direction of Ms. Escarpeta and her companion causing the fatal injuries to Ms. Escarpeta."

"Her male companion reportedly drove to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival."

"Having looked into that story and ask the investigating officer - they have absolutely no connection with any criminal activity, they are not known to be gang affiliates nor are the known to be associated with any illicit activity. The initial belief is that they were at the wrong place at the wrong time."

Marion Ali, reporter
"Do you have any suspects yet?"

Raphael Martinez - Police Press Officer
"Not as yet."

While that is the official information given by police, we were reliably informed by those in the area that about 2:30am that morning Escarpeta was in a white car which was driving up stop here on West Canal - This was being pursued by a green car that was on the other side of the canal - The green car pulled up at the South Street Bridge and opened fire.

3 men ran out of the white vehicle near this green cement building and ran into an alley.

Escarpeta remained in the vehicle and was shot multiple times. This version differs sharply from the account given by police and the family.

They say that the driver of the car just made a wrong turn.

Marcia Ortega - Sister of Decease
"So far to my understanding she was at home socializing with her boyfriend and they decided to go out and purchase a fry chicken and on their way back home that was when she received 3 gunshots. What I understand really happened is that - the young man is not from the city, he was driving up stop and she told him that they were going in the wrong direction. He then put the vehicle in reverse and from there what happened is he explained that he only heard pop-shot sounds not conscious the vehicle he was driving received multiple gunshots. However, my sister received a shot that took away her life. The young man didn't receive any type wound. That is the part that hurts the most - the innocent people are dying because of other people problems that they have. My sister was in the middle of something that she didn't know anything about. I believe that her vehicle was probably mistaken. I myself is lost, I keep asking myself what happen. Even the young man who was driving is in shock. He can't even explain, both of them went out because yesterday Sunday was his birthday and he was living with my sister for only a week and they planned to have a nice weekend I believe. Friday night he started to celebrate his birthday, he went out to purchase and the outcome is her death."

Gayle Escarpeta was a computer program assistant at the Youth for the Future and also a mother of a 5 year old son and a one year old daughter. For her grieving family, it is the second time they are losing a loved one to gun violence. In 2007 - Escarpeta's older brother, Kirk Ortega was gunned down in front of Pratt's Fry Chicken. He was only 30 years old.

Marcia Ortega - Sister of Decease
"My brother died 5 years ago and for me up to this moment I still don't believe that he is not here anymore with me - I tried to comfort myself by saying that he is out in the cayes working because that was where he lived and then now my sister not being here with me anymore. Senselessly her life has been taken away - it's not easy and what hurts me the most is to sit here and look at her kids waiting to see mommy come home and there will be no mommy to come home anymore."

So far no one has been detained. Escarpeta was the mother of two children and worked at Youth For The Future.