A 32-year-old mother of five was fatally stabbed in broad daylight on a busy street in Del Rio, Texas, in a brutal attack that left authorities searching for a motive. Caroline “Caro” Peña was attacked Thursday afternoon outside a Sonic drive-through on one of the city’s busiest roads, according to police and eyewitness accounts.

Police identified three suspects in connection with the killing: sisters Kitty Mia Diaz, 21, Amaya Cookie Diaz, 19, and their friend Kyandra Renee Faz, 21. All three were taken into custody Thursday evening and charged with murder.

Emergency responders transported Peña to Val Verde Regional Medical Center just after 2 p.m. with multiple stab wounds. Due to the severity of her condition, she was transferred to a hospital in San Antonio for emergency surgery. Peña was pronounced dead around 9 p.m.

Del Rio police said surveillance footage captured the attack and showed Peña bloodied and confronting her assailants at the scene. Authorities traced the location of the assault to a Del Rio address before arresting the Diaz sisters around 4 p.m. The third suspect was detained shortly afterward without incident. All three were processed at the Del Rio Police Department and later transferred to a correctional facility.

Peña, a resident of the border city with a population of approximately 35,000, was last heard from by her mother on June 18. Her room was discovered by cleaning staff three days later upon the expiration of a reservation, raising initial concerns about her whereabouts.

Friends of Peña described the killing as a shocking and senseless act. Zelina Ochoa, a childhood friend, expressed grief and disbelief at the violent attack occurring in such a public setting. Another close friend, Christina Salinas, said she had spent time with Peña the night before the incident and recognized her immediately in post-attack photos. Salinas noted that Peña had been alert and responsive before her departure to San Antonio for surgery.

As investigations continue, authorities have not released details regarding the motive behind the attack. The community remains unsettled by the violent loss of Peña, remembered by friends and family as a resilient individual.