NORTH Eastern Division (NED) officers rushed to Windy Hill, Arouca, on Wednesday after a seven-month-pregnant Venezuelan woman was shot and killed in an apparent attack meant for her common-law husband.

The victim was identified as Anais Lopez, 31, of Mohan Street, Piarco. She was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. Doctors attempted emergency surgery to save her baby, but those efforts were unsuccessful.

According to reports, Lopez and her 25-year-old boyfriend went to his grandfather’s garden in Windy Hill around 1 pm to pick coconuts when two armed men ran towards him. The man fled, but when he returned later he found Lopez lying in a pool of blood. She had been shot multiple times.

Police were alerted and responded, taking Lopez to hospital. Two men were arrested shortly after the shooting and were said to be assisting investigators.

Senior officers at the scene included ASPs Bharath and Pierre, Insp Narcis, and officers from the Homicide Department, including Sgt Rivers and PC Mc Queen.