"Sad situation:" Woman murdered outside her workplace during apparent robbery

MILWAUKEE — A woman was murdered just outside of her job near 12th and National on Milwaukee's south side on Tuesday, January 31st. Gunfire erupted around 6:00 a.m., and police arrived to find a 53-year-old woman shot to death. The victim has been identified as Karen Simek.

Employees at Garden-Fresh Foods said Tuesday they're beside themselves and grieving over this incident. Many of them said they're still uncertain as to why this murder happened.

"It's a sad thing for a person to lose their life like that," a neighbor said.

FOX6 News has learned Simek was a long-time employee of Garden-Fresh Foods. Police believe the shooting may have happened during a robbery. Officials were back at the scene Tuesday afternoon, gathering evidence as they look for a definitive motive and suspect.

"It's just a bad thing," a neighbor said.

Some who were also headed to work Tuesday were shaken up by the violent incident.

"It's a sad situation. I'm 50 years old and when I grew up in this city in 1970, you didn't hear things like this. You pray and you just hope things get better. There's not much more you can do," a neighbor said.

Neighbors, along with employees at Garden-Fresh Foods said they're praying the woman's family can find comfort and justice.

Garden-Fresh Foods released the following statement:

Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.