ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A 25-year-old woman died after she was shot Tuesday morning at an apartment complex, according to St. Petersburg police.
Officers responded just before 6 a.m. to the Reserve at Lake Pointe Apartments at Lynn Lake Drive South, located just off 22nd Street South, according to a news release. Police identified the woman shot as Yvonne Abernathy, who was outside her unit in the hallway.
As of Tuesday evening, police said a suspect still not been arrested and add they believe the shooting was not random.
Hearing about her death hit close to home for Marjorie and Maress Scott, whose own son Marquis Scott was shot and killed in 2019.
They said Abernathy was the first girlfriend their son brought home. Described as a sweet person, they said she continued to support the family after Marquis was killed. She would show up at events honoring him and the work they do to prevent gun violence through their Quis For Life, Inc. organization.
"She was very loyal and supportive of Marquis, and it's really heartbreaking for her to be gone, but to be gone the same exact way, it's really heartbreaking," Marjorie Scott said. "There's other ways to resolve conflict other than gun violence."
Police said Abernathy lived with a family member who was asleep when she was shot. The family member then came out and found her in the hallway.
"She shares the apartment with a family member who was asleep they heard shots. They came out and they found her in the hallway," said St. Pete Police spokesperson Yolanda Fernandez.
Maress Scott said hearing about Abernathy's death feels like losing a piece of his son. They feel yet another act of gun violence highlights the importance of the community collaborating to put an end to it.
"Change happens one person at a time, and as each one of us take accountability, we all make a difference, and pretty soon we'll have a whole culture of kids living a positive, non-violent lifestyle," Maress Scott said.
They add it's important to note such acts not only affect the victims, but also their surrounding loved ones.
St. Pete police are asking anyone with information related to the shooting to come forward.