Dallas mom-of-three, shot dead by stray bullet as she drove her daughter to get ready for prom

A mother-of-three was fatally shot in a shootout while driving one of her daughters to get ready for prom in the Dallas area.

Ana Moreno, 39, was hit by a bullet that entered her vehicle around 4 p.m. Saturday at a shopping mall in Pleasant Grove, Texas.

Police believe two vehicles in the area were shooting at each other when the stray bullets flew and struck Moreno and three other men.

The mother later died in hospital from her injuries, FOX 4 reported.

“She was so excited to see her getting ready for prom. She was excited for everything,’ Moreno’s daughter Michelle Rodriguez said. “She was so excited that we were graduating, that’s all she wanted.”

“She was so excited to see her getting ready for prom. She was excited for everything,’ Moreno’s daughter Michelle (left) said. “She was so excited that we were graduating, that’s all she wanted”

Investigators believe two vehicles in the area were firing at each other when the stray bullets flew and struck Moreno and three other men.

It is currently unclear whether the three men who were taken to hospital were also bystanders or were involved in the shooting.

The three men were still hospitalized in critical condition and no suspects had been arrested on Sunday evening.

Moreno’s family held a balloon release on Sunday afternoon and commemorated the devoted mother of two young girls and a boy.

‘It’s hard. I still can’t believe it,’ said Amy Rodriguez, Moreno’s other daughter who was in the passenger seat of the car when the shots rang out.

“Just very loud, very close gunfire, very close to us,” she told FOX4.

“At that time, the woman’s daughter said she didn’t care about anything except that her mother was alive.

“I didn’t care about prom. I didn’t care about anything. I just wanted her to be okay.

The girl said she told her mum to keep driving but her mum didn’t respond and didn’t move.

“Well, she fell on me, and when I looked at her, I saw blood, and I knew,” she recalled. Their vehicle eventually crashed and Rodriguez got out of the car screaming for help.

‘Well, she fell on top of me, and when I looked at her, I saw blood, and I knew,’ Amy Rodriguez (right) recalled moments after her mother was shot in their vehicle .

The woman’s family held a balloon release on Sunday afternoon and commemorated the devoted mother of two young girls and a boy

It is currently unclear whether the three men who were taken to hospital were also bystanders or were involved in the shooting.

A witness, who spoke with the local outlet, described the gruesome scene he came across when he saw the girl running.

“She looked panicked. She was trying to find someone to help her mother. She was scared,” witness Jacob Faz said.

Faz had gone out with his wife and said they had tried to help the mother but there was nothing they could do.

‘She wasn’t breathing. I checked the pulse,’ he told FOX 4.

Michelle, who is a year younger than her sister Amy, said their mother meant to them that their lives would never be the same without her.

“She didn’t deserve it. She didn’t, Michelle said.

Amy, Michelle and the rest of their family now come together to honor their lost loved one and mourn their passing.

“It will get better eventually,” Amy said in tears.

“She didn’t deserve it. She didn’t,’ Michelle said of her mother

The shooting took place near this petrol station on Bruton Road and Masters Drive

Michelle, who is a year younger than her sister Amy, said their mother meant the world to them that their life would never be the same without her

Moreno’s family started a GoFundMe account to help cover funeral costs.

“With heavy hearts, we share that Ana was suddenly taken from us due to gun violence,” the fundraiser description read.

“We would like to thank everyone who sent us their condolences. We will appreciate everyone’s help in putting Ana to rest,” he continued.

The fundraiser has a goal of $15,000 and raised just over $5,000 on Sunday.