Ex-Miss Venezuela killed in roadside robbery

CARACAS, Venezuela – Former Miss Venezuela Monica Spear and her ex-husband were gunned down late Monday night in front of their 5-year-old daughter while struggling against aggressors attempting to rob them, according to authorities.

Their daughter was harmed but in stable condition after receiving medical attention for undisclosed injuries.  No arrests have been reported.

Spear, 2004’s Miss Venezuela, was an actress often featured in soap operas on the Telemundo network and split time between her native country and the United States. 

She and her ex-husband Berry, 39, had a good relationship, according to local media reports.

The incident sparked outrage on social media, with many condemning the Venezuelan government for its lack of effectiveness policing murder and other violent crimes.  The country has one of the world’s highest murder rates, with 79 murders per 100,000 people according to the non-profit Venezuelan Observatory of Violence.