Mother of Puerto Rican Olympian killed by stray bullet in CT drug shootout

The mother of a Puerto Rican Olympic team member was killed on Saturday after being struck by a stray bullet while sewing in her Connecticut home.

The 56-year-old victim is reportedly Mabel Martinez, the mother of Yarimar Mercado Martinez, a rifle shooter on the Puerto Rican Olympic team who competed in Toyko’s 2020 summer games and in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

According to recent reports, Martinez was struck in the head by a shooter who opened fire on a man walking outside her home in Waterbury and subsequently died from her injuries in the hospital the next day, the New York Post reported.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Waterbury Police Chief said individuals in two cars, including convicted felons known for drug dealing, got into a shootout over what he believes was a drug-related matter. He also stated that he does not believe that Martinez was the intended target.

Shortly after the shooting, Mercado Martinez took to Facebook to express her grief over her mother’s tragic death.

“Why you? why is it like that? If you were just sitting in your house sewing, as you used to do…,” she wrote on Facebook in Spanish.

“Two days ago you called me with excitement, asking me to save the date and help you prepare to renew your wedding vows with daddy in Puerto Rico,” she said Sunday. 

“There are so many things I still needed to learn from you … I was so far away without being able to do anything, I couldn’t even say goodbye to you,” the daughter continued. 

The 27-year-old Olympian flew from Brazil to Connecticut to be with her family on Sunday, Gilberto Hernandez, Puerto Rico’s Shooting Association president said. According to Mercado Martinez, her mother’s remains are being transported to Puerto Rico so her family members could pay their respects.

Although no arrests have been made, police are currently looking for information on the whereabouts of 34-year-old Levi Brock of New Haven and have stated that they intend to take him in for questioning about the fatal shooting, Fox 61 reported.