Small business owner and former mayoral candidate Yolanda Perez was killed late last night in the parking lot of Downtown Market. She was walking to her car around 10:27 PM when a hooded assailant grabbed her from behind and stabbed her through the side of her abdomen. Security cameras in the area caught the murder on video, but the assailant’s face was covered by what appeared to be a black facemask.

Before succumbing to her injuries, Mrs. Perez was able to dial 911. Emergency vehicles were dispatched to her location, but she was dead before they arrived. The EMTs who reached Mrs. Perez first attempted to resuscitate her to no avail. Her purse was noted to be missing from the scene, and when the security footage was later reviewed during the investigation, the perpetrator can be seen grabbing the purse before fleeing on foot.

Sheriff Victor Grayson took charge of the crime scene after it was established that a murder had taken place. When asked for comment, he said, “I know me and Mrs. Perez have had our differences in the past, but she’s still a citizen of Emerson Valley. I’ll make sure whoever was behind this heinous crime is punished to the full extent of the law.”

The investigation is still in its infancy, so there isn’t much information available at this time. If anyone witnessed the attack on Mrs. Perez or knows something about it, please contact the Emerson Valley Sheriff’s Department directly, or email us at emersonvalleygazette@gmail.com.

-Quinn Paxton, Local News, Emerson Valley Gazette