A Coquitlam woman who was fatally shot Dec. 8 was an entrepreneur and an artist who had a big heart, says her brother.
Stephanie Forster, 39, was the victim of a shooting at Lambert Way near Turner Avenue in Coquitlam around 11 p.m. that night.
Tyson Forster said he has been devastated by the news and remembers Stephanie as an "entrepreneur" with many irons in the fire, who worked with the poor, including children in Haiti, where she lived for five years to help after hurricane Katrina.
"The full depth to everything that she did was quite monumental," said Forster, who said his sister loved working with children and families.
Forster said his sister would "light up the room" and the two of them had plans to make a film.
She also went by the name Stephanie Limage, for her art, business and her humanitarian tech company, Forster said.
Open house held at Nestor Elementary
"It’s been absolutely devastating, and words can’t explain the mixed emotions," said Forster, who works in the film industry.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has taken over the case and has confirmed to the Tri-City News that the investigation into Forster's death is still ongoing.
On Saturday (Dec. 17), Coquitlam RCMP held an open house at Nestor Elementary for residents in the area to talk about their concerns.
Investigators told Global News that Forster's ex-husband, Gianluigi Derossi, was someone they had hoped to speak to regarding her death.
However, he died of self-inflicted injuries two days later in Surrey.
Women's support group holds rally
Forster reportedly had a restraining order against Derossi at the time of her death and concerns about enforcement of these orders prompted a rally in front of Coquitlam RCMP last Friday (Dec. 16).
In a statement, the Battered Women's Support Services says Forster's death raises many questions about the ability of police to follow up on breaches of restraining orders.
Coquitlam RCMP said the rally was peaceful and dispersed without incident.
"Coquitlam RCMP takes all protection orders seriously and complaints regarding the violation of those orders are investigated," Cpl. Alexa Hodgins said in a statement to the Tri-City News.
IHIT has not provided information to the Tri-City News any background about Derossi pending the outcome of the investigation.
