The Christmas week got off to a bloody start out west where a 68 year old woman was executed in front of her grandchildren. Last night around 7:30, Paulina Urbelina Sanchez was outside her Santa Elena home, waiting for her daughter to bring her dinner when a gunman emerged and shot her about 4 times. She collapsed on her verandah and took her last breaths as her 2 young granddaughters looked on in terror. Courtney Weatherburne has more details on this ruthless murder.
Courtney Weatherburne reporting
Paulina Urbelina Sanchez, decorated her house just the way she always did for Christmas. She wanted the house to be perfect for their family gathering this Friday.
But all those grand plans were shattered last night. Sanchez was shot and killed at her door in front of her two grandchildren.
Aulio Sosa, Son of Deceased
"It's so sad I can't believe it."
She had just gotten home around 7:00 after visiting her son and called her daughter to bring food for her. But instead of delivering her mother's dinner, she came face to face with her killer.
Paulina Suarez, Daughter
"I stopped at the Brothers Chinese Store and bought fry chicken and as soon as I get it I went home."
"When I got closer I just heard gunshots and I clearly heard my mom told the guy " Please don't kill me, please don't kill me " and she screamed and he just started to shoot and shoot and I met him going out and I pulled his shirt and I looked at him and I tried to fight with him and he pushed me and I ran behind him but I hurt my foot and I couldn't reach him."
The gunman then jumped in a taxi that was parked nearby and sped off. But Suarez still got a good look at him.
Paulina Suarez, Daughter
"When I used to live at Bradley's Bank I used to meet him when I used to work at Aguada. I saw him about 2 or 3 times and I used to give him the hour but he just used to look at me."
Neither police nor the family wanted to get into much details, but at this point the motive is a long standing family land dispute.
Supt. Richard Rosado, OC, San Ignacio
"Based on evidential material available to us at this time we believe the motive is based on a land dispute between relative."
"We are still looking for the gunman we do not know his identity, we are still trying to confirm his identity but we believe it is just a matter of time before we apprehend him present we do have 2 persons detained for questioning."
So while the police continue their investigation, the family has to prepare for the wake and funeral of their loved one, instead of a warm family celebration.
Paulina Suarez, Daughter
"God is big he never forget no ibe and they will pay for what they did to my mom because she wasn't doing them anything."
Her granddaughters who witnessed the murder are 7 and 8 years old. Sanchez additionally leaves behind about 28 grandkids and 10 kids. Police are following leads to locate the shooter. They are also investigating the very troubling family dispute angle.
