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Bethesda community helps bakery employee hit by deadly DC shooting

A popular Bethesda, Maryland, bakery and its customers are shocked to learn that a beloved staff member is a victim of D.C. gun violence, and the community is rallying to her side.

Praline Bakery and Bistro in the Sumner neighborhood of Bethesda is raising funds for 14-year employee Blanca Coreas, a favorite of Praline customers.

“Anybody who comes into our bakery knows Blanca, because she was always the one who makes the coffee, very eager to help … everybody is very shocked that something like this could happen to her,” said bakery co-owner Susan Limb.

Coreas was injured in a shooting Saturday that killed her 16-year-old son, Jaime Zelaya. Another teen, 17-year-old Wilfredo Torres, was also killed in the shooting in the 6000 block of 13th Street Northwest, D.C. police said.

“Everybody who comes in are just shocked; they don’t know what to say,” Limb said.

Limb added that Coreas “has no idea” why the deadly shooting happened at her home.

A GoFundMe campaign is raising money for Coreas’ recovery and for the burial of her son.

“I hope that Blanca knows that she has a great support system out here, that we will help her,” Limb said. “She’s a hard-worker, very loyal … I can’t say enough nice things about her.”

Scattered showers and humid weather continues for the DC region on Sunday

While a flood watch for the region has been lifted on Saturday evening, humid temperatures and scattered showers will persist overnight and into Sunday. WTOP Meteorologist Mike Stinneford said that the potential for heavy showers will wind down overnight, but Sunday will remain unsettled, with scattered showers and thunderstorms. Highs will be in the 80s.
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