Ms Peart died of a single gunshot wound

Pauline Peart, 25, from Waltham Abbey, was sitting in her car in Tottenham, London, on Monday when a shot was fired through the open window.

Police are investigating the possibility she was the victim of a gangland killing.

Relatives said in a statement on Thursday: "As a family we are trying to come to terms with the tragic death of Pauline."

Unknown motive

Ms Peart was in her car in Hampden Road with a friend when three men looked in and then walked past at 2200 GMT.

Detective Chief Inspector Julian Headon of Scotland Yard's Operation Trident, which investigates gun crime within the black community, said the men then turned back.

One put the barrel of a handgun through the open window and fired.

Ms Peart's friend then drove her to a nearby house where she died at 2330 GMT.

Detectives said they were keeping an open mind over the motive.

They were looking at the possibility that the killing arose from a long-standing gang rivalry.

Detectives have not ruled out an attempted carjacking, that her friend might have been the target or that she could have been a victim of mistaken identity.