A Missouri grandmother was tragically killed as she browsed at a Barnes and Noble after a car slammed into the store.
Paula Abboud, 74, was killed on Friday afternoon following the crash at the St. Louis book shop.
The collision also severely injured her husband, Camille, 75, who was shopping with her at the time.
Family members told the St. Louis Post Dispatch that Abboud frequented the store often, many times with her grandchildren.
Police responded to a call about an SUV crashing into the storefront at around 1.30pm at the Ladue Crossing Shopping Center.
The driver sustained minor injuries and is cooperating with police, the outlet reported.
Susan Ryan, a spokesperson for the city of Ladue, said in a statemen to the outlet that it was too early in the investigation to determine if any charges would be brought against the driver.
It remains unclear why the car crashed into the bookstore, as Ladue police Chief Ken Andreski said that it was ‘hard to say’ on Monday.
Paula Abboud, 74, of St. Louis was shopping at a Barnes & Noble when a car rammed into the bookstore and killed her
The SUV crashed into the Barnes & Noble storefront at around 1.30pm at the Ladue Crossing Shopping Center
Family members told the St. Louis Post Dispatch that she frequented the store often, many times with her grandchildren
‘It looks like this is a very tragic accident,’ he added.
Pictured: Abboud’s husband, 75-year-old Camille who was also injured
Abboud’s daughter, Leila Abboud, told the outlet that her mother and father had immigrated from Lebanon to America years ago, and had called St. Louis home for 15 years.
Abboud and Camille share two children, Leila and Ramzi, and two grandchildren.
‘My mom was the heart of our family and was always the one who was cooking for us and bringing us together,’ Leila added.
Their daughter said Abboud would care for the family while her father worked as an oncologist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University.
Abboud enjoyed playing tennis and loved to take her grandson to the zoo, Leila told the outlet.
‘She became an expert in Legos because [her grandson] really likes them,’ she added. ‘She was just the pillar of our family.’
A display of flowers were seen outside of the now-boarded up store front of the bookstore.
