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.