The mother of an Olympian has been shot and killed in a terrible tragedy.
Mabel Martinez was the mother of Yarimar Mercado Martinez, a rifle shooter on the Puerto Rican Olympic team. Martinez was sewing in her Connecticut home over the weekend when a bullet hit and killed her.
Police say a shooter opened fire on a man who was walking outside of her home. The 56-year-old was struck in the head by a bullet. She died the next day.
Details about the shooting are not completely clear, but they know that Martinez was not the intended target in the shooting. Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo told the Associated Press that the shooting is believed to be drug-related. The man who was walking outside the home was shot in the leg during the incident. He is expected to recover.
In a translated Facebook post, Yarimar expressed her grief over the loss of her mother. "You taught me the motto 'everything happens for something' and I applied it in every difficult situation in my life," she wrote. "But, this time? , this time I don't know how to apply it mommy, can you help me please? I really need to understand this. "
The Olympian was reportedly in Brazil at the time of the incident. According to Gilberto Hernández, president of the Puerto Rico Shooting Association, she arrived in Connecticut on Sunday. She says her mother's remains are being transported to Puerto Rico so family members can say their goodbyes.
"We will be taking her to Puerto Rico so her friends and family can say goodbye," she wrote on Facebook. "Any contribution is greatly appreciated. Thank you so much everyone for your messages of support. I'm still trying to assimilate everything … I wish it was just a nightmare."
In another post, the Olympian spoke directly to her mom writing that she was "the best mom." The emotional post also spoke of how unfair the tragedy is. "… I could not even say goodbye to you …."
The athlete shared that her mother had been so excited for her upcoming vow renewal with her husband. Yarimar apologized to fans that she will not be able to compete as she copes with the loss.
No arrests have been made.
