Teen who killed woman, 64, walking to Manhattan supermarket fled the US to Dominican Republic

New York authorities have launched an international manhunt for a 17-year-old who shot and killed a mother-of-three in Manhattan last month.

Valeria Ortega, 64, was hit by a stray-bullet while she was walking to a neighborhood supermarket on December 26.

The suspect, Manuel Ramos, fled on a flight to the Dominican Republic on January 1, NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig told reporters Wednesday.

Ortega was crossing the street when Ramos - a passenger in a car - opened fire and struck her in the head as she was approaching the curb in Manhattan.

Valeria Ortega was hit by a stray-bullet and killed on December 26 while she was walking to a supermarket in the Manhattan neighborhood of Inwood. NYPD revealed Wednesday that the shooter, Manuel Ramos, 17, fled the United States on a January 1 flight to the Dominican Republic

Valeria Ortega was hit by a stray-bullet after a teenager fired three shots at two individuals aboard a scooter (left) who he thought were following the vehicle he was traveling on with two people to purchase marijuana  

She was rushed to Harlem Hospital where she died.

Authorities say Ramos was with two other people in the vehicle traveling to purchase marijuana in the Inwood neighborhood when he fired a shot at two males aboard a scooter who he thought were following him.

Surveillance video showed two people on the scooter at it crossed Vermilyea Avenue and turned on to Dyckman Street before the shot was fired.

Detectives from the 34th precinct were able to find the car and interviewed the other two people who admitted Ramos had pulled the trigger.

Surveillance camera still image shows Valeria Ortega, a 64-year-old mother-of-three, moments before she was shot dead in Manhattan on December 26. NYPD said her shooter, 17-year-old Manuel Ramos, fled to the Dominican Republic on January 1

Valeria Ortega was shot and killed as she was approaching the sidewalk curb

The two individuals, who have not been charged, said they were not aware Ramos was carrying a weapon.

'As they're driving there a scooter follows them. Unbeknownst to them, Manuel has a gun, turns around, fires the gun out the window, strikes our 64-year-old,' Essig said, as quoted by the New York Post.

Ramos, a resident to the Bronx, has a criminal record that shows one prior arrest for possession of stolen property.

DailyMail.com reached out to the Dominican Republic National Police for comment. 

Ortega, who was retired, was remembered in a GoFundMe fundraiser as a 'caretaker, she took good care of her 101-year old mother and an elderly neighbor in her building.'