On a tragic day in May of 2016, 65-year-old Claudina S. Molina Morales was nearing her retirement after a long and compassionate career as a caregiver. A mother to two children and a doting grandmother to two grandchildren, she was known for the professional, passionate, and loving way she attended to her patients. Originally trained as a surgical nurse in La Paz, Bolivia, she had built a life in the United States, dedicating herself to helping others heal.
Her life was abruptly cut
short on May 6, 2016, when she became a victim in a deadly shooting spree. While outside a Giant grocery store in Aspen Hill, not far from Bethesda, she was confronted by an assailant who was attempting to steal her car. Reports indicate that she fought back against her attacker but was tragically shot and killed during the encounter. Her death was the final act in a series of violent shootings that day.
Following the string of fatal shootings, law enforcement identified a federal law enforcement officer as the alleged perpetrator. The suspect was subsequently apprehended and faced multiple charges, including three counts of murder for the lives he took that day. The community mourned the loss of Claudina Morales, remembering her as a gifted and dedicated caregiver who had touched many lives through her work. Her family, left to grapple with the sudden and violent loss, received an outpouring of support from the community, with a fundraising effort established to help them through the difficult time.
