Chicago Sun-Times

Woman killed by stray bullet in Mexico City grew up in Chicago burbs

- BY MATTHEW HENDRICKSO­N, STAFF REPORTER mhendricks­on@suntimes.com @MHendricks­onCST

A Chicago-area native was killed by a stray bullet while celebratin­g her one-year wedding anniversar­y in Mexico City.

Tatiana Mirutenko, 27, was leaving a restaurant with her husband and their friends on Saturday when a gunman on a motorcycle fired shots at a bouncer at a nearby bar, according to Mexico City authoritie­s.

Mirutenko was killed by a stray bullet, and the bouncer was wounded but survived according to the city’s prosecutor­s office. The attackers escaped.

Mirutenko grew up in the northwest suburbs and lived in Chicago before moving to San Francisco for a job opportunit­y, according to her family. She was vacationin­g in Mexico City on a delayed honeymoon trip and celebratin­g her one-year wedding anniversar­y.

She and her husband, James Hoover, were married at a church in the Ukrainian Village neighborho­od and held their reception in Lincoln Park, her family said.

Officials at the Bureau of Consular Affairs confirmed Miruten- ko’s death and said the U.S. Consulate in Mexico City was providing services to her family.

“We can confirm that U.S. Citizen Tatiana Mirutenko was killed in Mexico City on July 7. We extend our sincere condolence­s to friends and family members of the deceased,” the bureau said in a statement.

Mirutenko moved to San Francisco for her job with Nektar Therapeuti­cs, according to her family.

She had worked on the biopharmac­eutical company’s investor relations team for more than two years, according to Jennifer Ruddock, senior vice president of investor relations.

“It is with very heavy hearts that we received the devastatin­g news about our Nektar team member and colleague Tatiana Mirutenko,” Ruddock said in a statement.

“She was always willing to help on any project across the company and had an incredibly strong work ethic. Many throughout Nektar, and outside the company, valued her positive energy, insight and sheer enthusiasm for life. She will be incredibly missed by all of us at Nektar Therapeuti­cs,” Ruddock said.

 ?? LINKEDIN ?? Tatiana Mirutenko
LINKEDIN Tatiana Mirutenko

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