NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Police have made an arrest in connection to a fatal stray bullet shooting that claimed the life of a Queens mother of three.
The NYPD said 31-year-old Issam Elabbar, of Queens, has been charged with murder, manslaughter, criminal possession of a weapon and petty larceny.
Bertha Arriaga, 43, was struck in the neck by a stray bullet and killed when she looked out of her third floor apartment window in Jackson Heights after hearing gun shots outside around 12:45 a.m. Wednesday.
She was found by her 14-year-old son, who called 911.
Arriaga was pronounced dead at the scene.
"I am horrified that another life has been lost to senseless gun violence," said City Council Member Daniel Dromm. "She died simply because she was standing by her window at the worst possible time... No one should ever have to experience a loss such as this."
Arriaga came to the United States 24 years ago from Mexico in search of a better life.
Her family said all she wanted to see what her three sons, ages 6, 10 and 14, go to college.
A GoFundMe page has been set up by her brother-in-law who says the proceeds will help her family with temporary living arrangements, funeral costs and her repatriation to Mexico.
Elabbar appeared to be trying to steal a bike with another man at the time of the shooting, police said on Wednesday.
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