Sara Trost: Tributes paid to ‘kind and selfless’ UK estate agent shot dead in Florida

A British estate agent who was shot dead in a “senseless tragedy” in the US has been described as “kind, vivacious” and “selfless”.

Sara Trost, 40, who ran a Coral Springs property business, was found by officers in the driver’s seat of a vehicle on 23 December suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, Coral Springs Police Department said.

Mrs Trost was from Southend in Essex and lived in Florida with her American husband and young daughter.

The 40-year-old volunteered with charity Paw Patrol Animal Rescue since 2017 and had fostered and even adopted from them.

Ana Y Lopez, vice president and co-founder of the charity, said her colleagues “cannot come to grips with what has happened”.

“She was one of our most trusted, knowledgeable and beloved fosters,” she said. “We are still in complete and utter shock about this senseless tragedy.

“Thinking about her husband and baby makes me absolutely heartsick. We truly cannot come to grips with what has happened.

“It may sound trite, but Sara will truly be missed. She was kind, vivacious, sweet, caring, helpful, giving, selfless, I could truly go on.

“I pray for her family, that they may be able to find some peace, some day.

“I know they say, ‘everything happens for a reason’ but this makes no sense at all.”

A statement from detectives said: “Despite immediate medical treatment, the driver succumbed to her injuries on scene and was pronounced dead.

“Coral Springs Police Department detectives conducted an immediate investigation and detained an individual in connection with the shooting.

“At this time there are no additional suspects being sought, nor is there a threat to the community.

“Crimes against persons unit are actively investigating the incident.”

Detectives have now said 51-year-old Raymond Wesley Reese has been charged with first-degree murder.

PA