DENVER — The Montbello community is in mourning after gun violence in the Denver metro claimed another life nearly two weeks ago.
Loved ones gathered for a vigil Sunday to remember 44-year-old Karol Ximena Beyoda, who was shot and killed during a domestic dispute on Feb. 24.
Police said Bedoya was shot near 46th Ave and Durham Court. Officials say her boyfriend, Clemente Flores-Hernandez, then took her 2-year-old grandson and led police on a chase along I-70 that ended near Strasburg.
The child was not hurt and police arrested Flores-Hernandez. He is facing murder and kidnapping charges.
Family members described Bedoya as someone who was always laughing, smiling and had a lot of friends, adding that she was a soccer mom and she and her kids loved playing the sport together.
"She loved soccer, the kids; she was soccer mom in every way you can think of," said Rodrigo Anguiano, Bedoya's brother-in-law.
The woman's sister as well as her brother-in-law, Elyana Bedoya and Rodrigo Anguiano, spoke with Denver7 at the vigil.
“It’s difficult to identify violence in a home, people like her, she didn’t tell us what was going on. She would tell us she was tired, struggling cause of money, never told us, 'I’m scared, I’m afraid, I’m a victim,'” said Anguiano.
They said the father of Bedoya's children's hasn't been involved in their lives, the only father figure they had was Flores-Hernandez, who is the suspect in the deadly shooting.
Relatives are now coming together to support Bedoya's four children.
"They don’t have a parent left, it's just us now. What we’re looking for is to be able to maintain what the kids need," added Anguiano.
They've launched a GoFundMe to raise money to help support them.
“Everyone that can hear us and see us: Try to support your family and be there because you never know, we need to pay attention to loved ones," he added.
If you'd like to help, click here.
