A Pennsylvania woman leaves behind an 11-year-old son after she was shot multiple times while inside her SUV.
According to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, Rachel King, 35, was turning into a shopping center and pulled into a Dunkin’ Donuts drive-thru lane when a light-colored sedan pulled up right behind her. The driver of the vehicle then proceeded to exit the car and shot at King multiple times through the window.
Her son was sitting in the backseat of the vehicle when the shooting took place shortly before 8 am. He was not injured.
District Attorney Kevin Steele told Action News that it appears the murder was targeted.
King, a teacher at Grover Cleveland Elementary School, was an exceptional employee who was loved by students, faculty and staff.
“We are devastated by the loss of an extraordinary teacher, who spent the last 10 years working with our students and their families,” the school said in a statement.
Following news of the victim’s death, the school approved a two-hour delay to the start of the school day. Counselors were made available for those in need of support.
“She was one of the best teachers. She did her very best at this school, very best,” said Charise Jones, a colleague of King.
The victim’s boyfriend also spoke to Action News stating that King was on her way to take her son to violin practice when she was tragically murdered, adding that she was “a loving mother, who was working towards a master’s degree and getting her principal’s certificate,” according to the news outlet.
On Thursday, her school held a memorial in her honor. Her brother, Allen King, recalled it being “the first bright spot he’s had this week since his sister’s death.”
“It was probably the most joyful tears I was crying in the last three days,” he said. “She loved that school, she loved teaching, she loved her students, they loved her back and you could just feel it.”
He added: “It felt like a hug, but just seeing the balloons go up in the sky, I looked up. Probably the first time in three days I looked up because I was looking down, not up.”
