BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – A woman was who shot while driving near Lauderhill early Friday morning has died, her family said.
The Broward Sheriff's Office confirmed that information Sunday night.
The victim's family said in an exclusive interview with Local 10 News that their sister, Rebecca Sama Karns, was a 31-year-old mother of two young children.
Karns had no brain activity and was taken off a ventilator Saturday night at Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, the family said. It’s a difficult loss for the family to absorb.
"They are telling me that she's brain dead," said Judith Karns, the victim’s sister. "I cannot express the pain I'm in."
The bullet struck Rebecca Sama Karns while she driving west in the 3100 block of West Broward Boulevard just before 3 a.m.. Her boyfriend was in the passenger seat.
"We all are feeling the pain. We all are crying right now. We all are in tears because no one deserved to end up this way," said Jonathan Karns, the victim’s brother. "She was fun to be around, always laughing, loving, caring. She would go out of her way and do anything for you or for anybody."
Surveillance video shows that after the shooting, Rebecca Sama Karns' SUV veered off the road before crashing into a parked car. The gunman fled and is currently at large. Deputies had said the they did not believe the shooting was random.
The victim's family now wants the public to step up.
"We need your help because that could have been your friend or your family or anybody that you love. So if you saw something or if you know something, we are asking you to help us and work with us. We need your help," Jonathan Karns said.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. The victim's friends have also set up a GoFundMe page to help Rebecca Karns' children and pay for funeral expenses.