The preschool teacher who was shot during a road rage incident on Interstate 95 in Fort Lauderdale over the weekend has died from her injuries, her family said Wednesday.
Ana "Ani" Estevez worked at a preschool in Broward while attending college at Florida Atlantic University, majoring in early childhood development with the goal of becoming a teacher for students with special needs.
“She would work at the school, she would go babysit other kids, and then she would come home late but she didn’t care if she came home late, she loved the kids, always,” said her sister, Mary Estevez.
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The 23-year-old was heading back Sunday night from spending Thanksgiving out of state when she and her boyfriend were side-swiped on I-95 near Davie Boulevard by a white BMW i8. The driver of the BMW then opened fire on the couple after they asked him to slow down.
Family members said Estevez was hit upwards of seven times. She was transported to Broward Health, where she eventually succumbed to her injuries. Her boyfriend, who was shot multiple times as well, was still in the hospital.
The driver of the BMW is still at large.
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“He was just a crazy driver that just got mad and hit her, and it was like a hit-and-run, and obviously my sister, she’s not mean to anybody, so I just don’t understand how he just pulled out a gun automatically like it was nothing," Mary Estevez said.
Authorities released a sketch of the suspect on Tuesday.
“I’m not mad at what you did to my sister ... I just want you to know that she’s not here anymore and it was because of you," Estevez's sister said Wednesday. "I just want you to go get some help because that's not right for you to shoot someone just like that and just leave. That's inhumane.”
Investigators said a young girl in a separate car was also hit by gunfire. She had non-life-threatening injuries and was expected to recover.
Estevez's family said according to investigators, the BMW is believed to have fired shots into the car with the young girl right before the case of road rage. So investigators are working on two separate shootings on I-95 on a day when so many people were traveling for Thanksgiving break.
“I just hope they catch the guy so he doesn’t do this to anyone else’s family. I’m just speechless. It’s like we’re in a nightmare and we just can’t wake up from it,” Mary Estevez said.
Her mother, Fresa Espinal, is also pleading for the gun violence to stop, fearing for other families.
The director of Ani Estevez's preschool spoke Thursday about the impact she's made on her young students.
“What we’re noting about the children is that they miss Ani and they’re asking where Ani is," Jenessa Stearns said. "We’re not giving specifics, but we’re telling them that Ani is gone and we’re giving them big hugs and they’re giving us big hugs. The best thing about children, they are perfectly equipped to hold us through this and they’ve been amazing."
Ani Estevez worked as a toddler teacher for three years.
"As a teacher, she is patient, loving, nurturing, protective, passionate woman," Stearns said. "We’ve been sharing with each other pictures with the kids hugging her. It’s just love, love, and more love."
The 23-year-old's aunt was also a teacher in the same classroom.
“Her legacy when you see her is smile and warmth, very good-hearted and very loving. Every single parent and child will have the most fond memories of who she was and how she loved. I’m sure her family will feel the same,” she told NBC 6.
If you have any information, you’re being urged to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477 (TIPS). You can remain anonymous. The family has also set up a GoFundMe page.
