Maria Rivera-Contreras, a 57-year-old Hispanic woman, was killed on June 23, 2016, in Tampa, Florida. She had been sitting in the backseat of a family car after delivering food to a friend on Columbus Avenue when a stray bullet struck her as the vehicle backed onto Columbus Drive. The shot was fired during an argument among several teens and was apparently aimed at a teen riding a bicycle; Maria had switched seats with her granddaughter shortly before, which the family says saved the child’s life.

Maria’s brother, Victor Rivera, Sr., drove her to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Authorities identified 19-year-old Tyrell Rashard Warren as the person who fired the fatal shot; he was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and felon in possession of a firearm. Warren’s prior arrests were reported to include drug possession, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, aggravated assault on a security guard, armed burglary, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Investigators said many witnesses were reluctant to cooperate out of fear of retaliation; the Tampa Police Department offered a $3,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Maria’s family remembers her as a sister, grandmother, and friend. If anyone has information about the shooting or witnessed the events on Columbus Avenue that evening, please come forward.