A BRITISH estate agent has allegedly been shot dead by an evicted tenant as she carried out a viewing with new renters in Florida.
Sara Trost 40, who hails from Southend, Essex, was gunned down as she sat idle in a parked car outside the property in Coral Springs, near Fort Lauderdale, on Thursday.
Police believe the victim was shot dead by a disgruntled former tenant of the home, 51-year-old Raymond Reese, who was arrested later that day.
The alarm was first raised at the three-bedroom property at around 12.30pm on Thursday.
But despite the best efforts of paramedics, the mother of one was pronounced dead at the scene.
“When officers arrived, they discovered a vehicle with one female occupant in the driver’s seat suffering from multiple gunshot wounds,” the Coral Springs police department confirmed in a statement.
“Despite immediate medical treatment, the driver succumbed to her injuries on scene and was pronounced dead.”
Shortly after the incident, Mr Reese was taken into custody as neighbours later claimed that he had been upset after being turfed out of the $515,000 home.
Police have not revealed any further details, but say that no additional suspects are being sought after at this time.
According to The Mail, Trost was a married mother and shared a three-year-old daughter with her American husband, Jason.
Prior to her death, she had been vocal on social media about gun violence – prompted by the deadly 2018 high school shooting in nearby Parkland where 17 people lost their lives.
She wrote on Facebook: “Australia had one incident. One, They FIXED IT. UK had ONE incident. They FIXED it. How?
“With action. Using their brains. It was not difficult for either country to find a workable and successful solution.
“Here in the US we seem to start and stop at ‘thoughts and prayers.’ Doesn’t seem to be working right,” she added.
Police have now confirmed that her death remains under investigation and that the suspect will remain in custody.
No trial date has been set.
