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California mother shot to death in front of her kids while driving them to school

RICHMOND, Calif. (KRON) – 29 year-old Rashanda Franklin of Richmond was shot and killed in front of her two kids while driving them to school Tuesday morning, according to police.

Around 8:45 a.m. officers received a call of possible shots fired at the intersection of Rheem Ave. and 29th St., Richmond Police Lt. Felix Tan said.

While officers were on their way to the site, dispatchers received additional reports of possible gun fire within the same area, Tan said.

“When the officers arrived, they found a silver vehicle that was stopped near the intersection of 29th and Rheem Avenue. Inside the vehicle in the driver’s seat was a woman that appeared to have had been suffering from a gunshot wound,” according to Tan.

Surveillance video from a nearby home shows the gunman get out of his car, approached Franklin’s vehicle, fire one shot into her car and drive off.

It was a single fatal shot into the mother’s chest.

Franklin was pronounced dead at the scene

Officers believe Franklin’s two children, both under the age of ten, witnessed the incident, Tan said.

The children were not physically harmed.

“It’s a targeted shooting, possibly domestic violence,” Tan said.

Police have some strong clues and are “hoping to get to the bottom of this real soon,” Tan said.

Tan described the suspect as a man, also in his 30s. Police did not release the suspect’s name, but say they have a good idea who committed this crime.

Police are still interviewing those who witnessed the incident, Tan said.