American Woman Shot to Death In Mexico City on Her Anniversary

Caleb Tolin | July 11, 2018
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San Franciscan Tatiana Mirutenko, 27, was celebrating her first wedding anniversary in Mexico City was fatally shot by a stray bullet when leaving a restaurant. The bullet was shot from two men on a motorcycle and were reportedly aiming for the bouncer.

An official from the Bureau of Consular Affairs confirmed Mirutenko died and US Embassy in Mexico City is assisting her family according to CNN.

Mirutenko and her husband, James Hoover, were dining with some friends at a taco restaurant in the Lomas de Chapultepec neighborhood. The area is supposedly upscale and her mother told ABC, “"She was telling me how wonderful, how safe it was."

Mirutenko worked at Nektar Therapeutics as a senior investor relations analyst where her coworkers described as a "bright" and "passionate rising star" with an "incredibly strong work ethic."

Natalie Mirutenko, Tatiana’s mother said her daughter "would give 200 percent. As a mother, we always say things, but she inspired me to be better. I'd give my life if she could just come back.”

Tatiana's father, Wasyl Mirutenko, said "A year ago, we were selecting flowers for the wedding. Today we were looking at flowers for the funeral."

According to the BBC, “In March, the State Department issued a statement urging travelers to Mexico to exercise ‘increased caution due to crime,’” which cited crimes such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking and robbery.

Mexico City Streets, a blog focused on life in Mexico City, says that the Lomas de Chapultepec neighborhood where Mirutenko was shot is one of the safer areas in the city and a global travel city report described the neighborhood as “home to some of the most expensive real estate in the city.”

The Guardian reported that future Chief of Staff Andrés Manuel López Obrador said that as much as 40 percent of Mexico is falling victim to crime and violence, but wants to make Mexico “a country of peace and tranquility.”

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