A woman who worked at a medical office in Villalba, Puerto Rico, has died three days after a patient shot her.
Key Facts
- Zulma Lee Negrón Torres, 49, a medical office worker, died on Thursday 22 October 2026.
- She was shot twice on Monday 19 October 2026, at around 8:00 a.m.
- The attack happened at a medical office in Villalba, Puerto Rico, a US territory.
- The 61-year-old male patient who shot her took his own life at the scene.
- As of 22 October 2026, 17:00 GMT
What We Know
Zulma Lee Negrón Torres, 49, died on Thursday 22 October 2026 after being shot at work in Villalba, Puerto Rico. Inspector Daniel Justiniano, director of the Ponce Criminal Investigation Corps, confirmed her death.
She was shot on Monday 19 October 2026, at around 8:00 a.m., according to Metro Puerto Rico. The attack happened at a medical office on road PR-547, kilometre 2.5, in the Aceituna barrio (district) of Villalba.
El Nuevo Día reports that she suffered two gunshot wounds. She was taken to Centro Médico de Río Piedras, a trauma hospital in San Juan.
She could not undergo surgery, and neurologists treated her at the hospital. She was declared dead on Thursday 22 October 2026, three days after the attack.
El Nuevo Día and Metro Puerto Rico say she took patients’ vital signs at the office. Primera Hora describes her as the office secretary, so the outlets differ on her exact job title.
Three children survive her. Primera Hora reports that she was an organ donor, a detail that only that outlet has published.
The shooter was a 61-year-old male patient, who then took his own life at the scene. Primera Hora says he was a crane operator and that he held a licensed firearm.
The Rio Times is not naming him, because the outlets spell his name differently. Because he died, no arrest was made, and no charges can follow.
According to El Nuevo Día, Primera Hora and Metro Puerto Rico, the two had been friends. She ended the friendship and blocked him on social media.
The outlets also report that he had been stalking her. She had considered seeking a protection order, but none had been filed.
The Homicide Division of the Ponce Criminal Investigation Corps is investigating the case. Primera Hora names Melissa Rodríguez as the prosecutor.
El Nuevo Día reports that Puerto Rican police count 29 women murdered on the island so far in 2026. The figure was reported on 22 October 2026.
Three Puerto Rican outlets reported the case on 22 October 2026. Their accounts agree on the main facts of the shooting and the death.
What Is Not Known
The reports do not give exact details of the weapon, beyond Primera Hora’s note that the firearm was licensed. They also do not say whether the shooter had any other complaints on record.
Funeral details have not been published. No official charges are possible, because the only suspect died at the scene.
The accounts of the friendship and the stalking come from press reports. The Rio Times cannot verify them independently, and police have not set out a formal motive in the reports we reviewed.
In Plain English
The Criminal Investigation Corps, known as the CIC, is the police unit that investigates serious crimes such as homicides. The Ponce office of the CIC is handling this case.
Puerto Rico is a US territory in the Caribbean, and its residents are US citizens. A protection order is a court order that tells one person to stay away from another.
What It Means for US Readers
Puerto Rico is a US territory, and its residents are US citizens. Readers searching for this story should know that it happened on US soil.
In this case, the outlets describe an ended friendship, a blocked social media profile and stalking. These are signs that many people would want to talk about with someone they trust.
Help in the US is available through the National Domestic Violence Hotline on 1-800-799-7233. Anyone in immediate danger should call 911.
Further details are likely to come from the Ponce investigators. We will update this report if police or prosecutors publish new facts.
More: Latin America news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the woman shot in Villalba?
She was Zulma Lee Negrón Torres, 49, who worked at a medical office. She was shot on 19 October 2026 and declared dead on 22 October 2026.
Has anyone been arrested?
No. The 61-year-old male patient who shot her took his own life at the scene, so no arrest or charges are possible. The Homicide Division of the Ponce CIC is investigating.
Did this happen in the United States?
Yes. Puerto Rico is a US territory, and its residents are US citizens.
Where can people in the US find help with stalking or abuse?
The National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached on 1-800-799-7233. Anyone in immediate danger should call 911.
Sources: El Nuevo Día, Primera Hora, Metro Puerto Rico, all 22 October 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief