In the quiet early morning hours of July 17, 2022, a night of camaraderie took a tragic and violent turn for a group of friends in Yuma, Arizona. Virginia Pena, a 39-year-old Hispanic woman, was enjoying a ride with three female companions, their path illuminated by the sparse streetlights of the desert city. As their tan GMC Yukon traveled near the intersection of 1st Street and 15th Avenue, the night was shattered by the sound of gunfire.
A dark-colored pickup truck had pulled alongside them, and without warning, several rounds were fired at the Yukon. The sudden eruption of violence left the occupants terrified and confused. One of the bullets found its mark, striking Virginia Pena. The driver of the Yukon, seeking safety and aid, sped away from the unknown assailant, coming to a stop in the area of 9th Street and Avenue A, where they immediately called for help.
When officers from the Yuma Police Department arrived at approximately 2:50 a.m., they found a scene of chaos and sorrow. Inside the GMC Yukon, they discovered Virginia Pena with a fatal gunshot wound. Despite the immediate response, she was pronounced deceased at the scene. The three other women in the vehicle, though shaken, were not physically injured in the attack.
The investigation into the drive-by shooting was launched immediately, with law enforcement working to piece together the events that led to the senseless act of violence. However, the identity of the shooter or shooters and the motive behind the attack remained elusive. The Yuma Police Department has made public appeals for any information regarding the dark-colored pickup truck and its occupants, but as of now, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified in the murder of Virginia Pena. The case remains an open and active investigation, a painful and unresolved chapter for her family and the Yuma community.
