Woman invited to party killed in restaurant parking lot, family says
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Version 0 of 1. Tañia Lopez-DiBari wanted to relieve some stress and hang out with co-workers. So on Saturday evening, the Montgomery Village woman traveled more than an hour to Fort Washington Marina to meet up with them for a CD-release party at a restaurant, family said. But at some point — as she perhaps stepped out for some air, a cigarette with friends or a break from the crowd — gunshots were fired amid a commotion nearby, and she was caught in the middle, family members said. “I guess she picked the wrong party,” said her sister-in-law, Elena Antezana, 35. “We are totally heartbroken.” U.S. Park Police are searching for a shooter or shooters and a motive in the deadly incident, which also critically injured a man. The shooting began about 1 a.m. Sunday in the parking lot of Proud Mary Waterfront Restaurant and Bar, Park Police said. A spokeswoman for the department could not confirm any details of the investigation, but Antezana said detectives told the family that Lopez-DiBari, 36, was standing about five steps away from the restaurant’s entrance when an altercation broke out in the parking lot and she was shot. [Tracking D.C.-area homicides.] Lopez-DiBari was planning to spend the evening with her husband’s family to celebrate his mother’s birthday, Antezana said. But after going through a recent move, she wanted to unwind at the event billed as a CD-release and Halloween party on Instagram, Antezana said. Her family visited the restaurant on Monday, placing flowers, candles and champagne at the site of the shooting in her memory. A Mylar balloon shaped like a football adorned a brightly colored bouquet, a nod to Lopez-DiBari’s love of the Washington Redskins and her bright spirit. “She was just a spunky, happy person, who just always cared about people,” Antezana said. “She was always aspiring to be a better person.” Lopez-DiBari had a 12-year-old daughter and was married to her high school sweetheart, Francisco DiBari. They both went to high school in Montgomery County and met through friends. She attended Watkins Mill, and he attended Seneca Valley. Outside of caring for her family, she loved yoga and football. Lopez-DiBari worked as a school health-room tech for Montgomery County, screening the health records of international students entering the county’s school system, family and county health officials said. When Antezana was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in May, her sister-in-law was the one comforting relatives and making soups for Antezana. “She was literally taking care of me and my family,” Antezana said. “It’s unreal.” Park Police said detectives are pursuing several leads in Lopez’s killing. Authorities are asking anyone with information about the case to call 202-610-8737 or e-mail USPP_Tipline@nps.gov. Anyone who provides information can remain anonymous. |