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‘People Told Me She Was Shot:’ Family and Friends Watch for Bradenton Shooting Victim
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‘People Told Me She Was Shot:’ Family and Friends Watch for Bradenton Shooting Victim

BRADENTON, Fla. (WWSB) – Family and friends gathered in the 2100 block of 15th Ave East Wednesday night for a candlelight vigil. Yolanda Baxcajay-Flores, 43, was shot and killed Tuesday night after Bradenton police said more than 30 rounds were fired.

Meredith Censullo, public information officer for the Bradenton Police Department, said Flores headed to the grocery store and thought he was going home. Censullo said he almost did.

“She was on her way, about to pull into her driveway, and she was shot while she was in her vehicle,” Censullo said.

Censullo emphasized that Flores was an innocent victim. The shots rang out from down the street and one of the bullets managed to hit Flores, according to Censullo.

“I got a call from my sister, she’s thirteen, saying my mom passed out at the wheel and when I got here, people told me she was shot while driving. When we got here, he was already in the ambulance,” said Joanna Baxcajay, the victim’s daughter.

Baxcajay fought back tears during the interview and said what happened to her mother was not fair and she did not deserve it.

“It was an unfortunate event that she was, she just happened to be there,” Baxcajay said. “She was so young.”

Censullo said the search continues for those responsible.

“It’s tragic because there were people out there with guns opening fire in neighborhoods for no apparent reason,” Censullo said.

Censullo said they don’t want any family to go through this.

A GoFundMe page was created to help Flores’ family.