Mother dies days after driving her toddler son to hospital while both wounded by gunfire in Minneapolis

A woman who drove herself and her toddler son to the hospital after both were severely wounded by gunfire has died, officials said.

Lilian M. Polacin Perez, 35, of Minneapolis, died Wednesday morning, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office said. Polacin Perez was treated at HCMC after she and her 2-year-old were shot Sunday night while in a vehicle in an alley in the 2900 block of 18th Avenue S.

She drove herself and her son about 1¼ miles to Children’s Minnesota Hospital in Minneapolis while both were suffering from “potentially life-threatening gunshot wounds,” a police statement read. Polacin Perez was later transferred to HCMC.

No arrests had been announced as of Wednesday afternoon, and police had yet to address a motive for the shooting.

“I am so sick of this!!” Lisa Clemons, a retired Minneapolis police sergeant who is now an anti-violence activist, posted on social media after she learned of Polacin Perez’s death. Her child, she wrote, is another one who will be raised without a mother.

“This mom was a SHERO in my book,” Clemons wrote. “Being critically injured, she was able to drive her baby to the hospital.”

In a statement shortly after the mother and her son were shot, Police Chief Brian O’Hara called the shooting of a child “absolutely horrific. It is outrageous. I am most thankful that it appears this child will survive.”

In a follow-up statement late Wednesday morning, O’Hara said, “I am deeply saddened to learn that the mother of this child has lost her life in such a senseless act of violence. This incident is a tragic reminder of how gun violence can — and is — tearing apart families in our community.”

Police said the boy was shot in the face. Polacin Perez’s brother-in-law, Jamie Chachipanta, told the Star Tribune that his name is Suriel. “I think he is going to be OK.” he said. “That is what the doctors said.”

Police said officers responded to a ShotSpotter activation that indicated four rounds were fired and arrived to find evidence of gunfire in the alley. Police are investigating the circumstances leading up to the shooting and trying to determine whether or not the gunfire was specifically meant for the victims.

There have been 23 homicides in Minneapolis this year, according to a Star Tribune database. That compares with 24 at this time last year.

Police encouraged anyone with information about the shooting to call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).