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Woman killed by stray bullet while working in Burien remembered at vigil

BURIEN, Wash. — SEPT. 20 UPDATES: Authorities say two teenagers have been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a woman who was hit as she worked at a chiropractic office in Burien.

King County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Ryan Abbott says the 17-year-old boys were arrested as they left a Burien residence Wednesday night.

Abbott says the teens were booked for investigation of murder. He says they are known members of a local gang.

KIRO 7's Gary Horcher said the 51-year-old killed was identified Thursday as Gabriela Reyes Dominguez, pictured above.

Gabriela was deeply loved.

She was remembered Thursday night, by loved ones, at a candlelight vigil. See a video report from the vigil below.

ORIGINAL STORY: On the other side of a tiny hole shattered in an office window, a single random bullet intended for somebody else 300 feet away instantly ended the life of a 51-year-old woman working at her desk.

People who knew the manager at Burien Chiropractic clinic say her sudden loss is tearing a giant hole in the hearts and fabric of her community.

"She was a community leader and she's been a pedestal to our community," said Burien Mayor Jimmy Matta, who knew the office manager at the chiropractic clinic--where he was a patient for 20 years.

"Her community was like family, and she always wanted to make sure that people had access to justice, to care, and if someone didn't know the language, she'd be there as an interpreter," he said. We just can't have these kind of terrorist acts in our community."

Claudia Mendoza, who was a longtime patient at the clinic said through tears. "She was always so kind, I'm really going to miss her so much."

The grieving family of the woman asked KIRO 7 not to share her name, while they're still sharing the tragic news with her extended community.

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According to King County detectives, at 2:45 p.m. Wednesday, two blocks from where the woman was killed, someone fired 11 shots from a moving car at a 39-year-old man who was walking with his 15-year-old son, whom he had just picked up from Highline High School.

The shots were fired at 152nd Street and 1st Avenue South.

Investigators say bullets hit nearby vehicles and buildings, but the man who was the shooter's intended target was not injured, and he is cooperating with the investigation.

A witness asked not to be identified, saw the shooter open fire. "The passenger sitting in the front side, he just reached over, out the window with a handgun and he started unloading the gun."

"I heard a couple more shots and saw a man leaning out of his car and firing at a guy running across the street," said Nik Paulson, who said he heard the sound of bullets flying by "like the sound in a movie."

Grieving friends of the woman killed are looking for answers.

"There used to be a gang unit in the city of Burien," said Kennett Bivens who was a friend of the victim. "They took it the gang unit away. I think it's about time to bring that back and let these police officers do their job, and crack down on this random violence."

Everyone who was at the scene admitted they could have been killed.

"It shows you can't take life for granted," said witness David Wilson. "Because this could happen to anybody."

Information from The Associated Press is included in this report.