A young mother was killed while hitching a ride home from a night out when her driver’s car was ambushed and riddled with bullets.
Brenda Wolfgrann dos Santos and her friends reportedly accepted a lift from two men after leaving a party in the early hours of Sunday (1 Feb).
During the journey, the car came under fire from occupants of another vehicle.
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One of the men in Brenda’s car was armed and returned fire, sparking a shootout between the two vehicles.
After the violent exchange, the men noticed Brenda, 24, was unresponsive.
They ordered her friends to get out of the car and carry Brenda with them before fleeing the scene.
Police were called and found dozens of shell casings, as well as vials of cocaine, at the scene in Cariacica, in Brazil’s Espírito Santo state.
Brenda was confirmed dead, local reports state, having been shot in the back.
Another woman was shot in the ankle but was rescued and taken to a nearby hospital, as reported by Need To Know.
It is not clear whether she was one of Brenda’s friends or a passerby.
The motive for the attack remains unknown, though some reports suggest the men may have been involved in drug trafficking.
Authorities are working to identify and apprehend those responsible.
Brenda leaves behind a six-year-old daughter.
Her body will undergo examinations before being released to her family for burial.
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