Canadian woman headed for London identified as victim in Mexico shooting

Gabriel Schart (centre) was shot and died in Mexico while travelling back to London, Ont. (Source: GoFundMe)

The son of a Canadian woman killed in Queretaro, Mexico, said she was on her way back to London, Ont. to look after her elderly mother.

Mexican police put out a release on Tuesday identifying the Canadian as Gabriele Schart, and added that she was killed in a shooting on March 16.

According to a GoFundMe page, "Her goal was to make it back to London, Ont. in about a week."

Police said Schart and a friend stopped in front of a convenience store to check on their pets, when they were supposedly approached by alleged criminals who threatened them into handing over their belongings.

The pair were both shot, with Schart dying at the scene while her companion was shot in the arm and taken to hospital.

According to a post by her son Corin on the Facebook page for his mother's theatre and karaoke bar in Zipolite, a town in southern Mexico, Schart was driving to the border at the time in an effort to return to Canada.

She was coming back after a decade in Zipolite to care for her mother, whose health had declined.

Global Affairs Canada said it is aware of the death of a Canadian in Mexico.

"Consular officials are providing consular assistance and support to the family and are in contact with local authorities to obtain additional information," Global Affairs said in a statement. "Due to privacy considerations, no further information can be disclosed."

The office of Mexico's attorney general in Queretaro said it could not comment beyond what had been released by police.

 

‘She did everything she could’

In an emailed statement to CTV News London, Schart's son Michael said his mother was always determined, no matter how difficult things got.

“My mother has always been strong-willed. No matter how tough things got, she found a way to get through it,” he said.” She moved to Scarborough, where she mainly raised myself and my brother, Corin, on her own. Things were tough then, money was scarce, and the stress was terrible for her. But, with help from friends, and determination, we made it through and things got better.”

Schart was also an avid traveller, and had been to places including England, Scotland, Iceland, Peru, the U.S., Jamaica and Ireland. 

She also loved Mexico, her son said, and in particular, Zipolite.

“It became her home. And we want to return her body there. To have her buried so she can rest in a place she loved so much,” he said.

The family has started a GoFundMe to cover transportation and funeral costs.

The family grew up having an abundance of pets, including cats, rats, turtles, dogs and fish, according to Michael. In Mexico her love of animals continued, where she ended up with four dogs and two cats.

Michael said the funds will also be used to help transport her pets back to Zipolite or to new homes.

Once his mother is at rest in Mexico, Michael said he wants to have a memorial service in Canada, with any extra funds being donated to animal rescue organizations.

“She did everything she could,” Michael said.

— With files from The Canadian Press