DEATH OF MARY-KATE PART II
Havana medical examiner verifies death and cause; Cuban ambassador contacts Olsen’s family in Los Angeles
HAVANA, CUBA – JUNE 30, 2008 – A Havana medical examiner announced Monday morning that actress Mary-Kate Olsen has died of gunshot wounds sustained during a hijacking attempt Sunday at Jose Marti International Airport. Olsen was 22.
According to witnesses, Olsen had been hit by a spray of bullets when two Cuban nationalists intent on hijacking an airplane opened fire on the crowd in the airport’s main terminal. Seven people were killed and 14 were injured in the massacre that took place shortly after noon.
Benito J. Mendoza, a medical examiner with the Ministerio de Asuntos Médicos, said Olsen was brought to Havana Hospital late Sunday night and was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Mendoza said an autopsy report will be released later this week.
“She was with friends when the shooting happened,” Mendoza said through an interpreter. “They took her to one of their houses, thinking they could help her. She stopped breathing while at the house, and the friends were frightened because she was an international celebrity in their care.”
Mendoza said the friends finally decided to take Olsen to the hospital and explain what had happened.
“By that time, Sunday night, we were already aware that Ms. Olsen had been shot at the airport,” Mendoza said. “We were just waiting for someone to tell us where she was.”
The United States Ambassador to Cuba, Rafael Herrera, contacted Olsen’s family early Monday morning, a senior staff member at Herrera’s office said. Arrangements are being made to fly the body back to Los Angeles, where Olsen lived.
Neither David nor Jarnette Olsen, Mary-Kate’s parents, could be reached for comment. A receptionist at Mary-Kate and Ashley’s Dualstar Entertainment Group headquarters in Los Angeles said Mary-Kate’s twin sister, Ashley, was not in the office and would not be available for interviews.
READ PART III: “Mary-Kate Olsen’s Body Returned to Los Angeles”
