Neighbors Face Drug Charges After Lawrence Woman Shot Dead In Her Sleep

LAWRENCE (CBS) -- Three people are facing charges in connection with the fatal shooting of a sleeping woman who lived below them.

Mirta Rivera, 41, was shot and killed in her sleep early Saturday morning by a bullet that went through her ceiling, prosecutors say. Family and friends have left flowers and candles for her outside her Exchange Street home.

The three men aren't charged with homicide at this time, but face drug charges after police found a backpack with heroin and cocaine behind the home.

The backpack was next to a stolen firearm matching the bullet casing found in Rivera's apartment.

Police said they anticipate being able to link the firearm found outside the home with the crime, and said the upstairs apartment smelled strongly of gunpowder when they walked in.

Christopher Paganmoux, Wilton Lara-Calmona and Jose Manuel Lara face heroin, morphine and cocaine trafficking charges.