PHOENIX - Police are searching for answers after a woman was found dead in her pickup truck.

The truck was left running, stopped in the middle of the road with its lights on near 28th Drive and Washington.

The victim has been identified as 32-year-old Joann Lopez, a mother of 8 kids.

At about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, someone called 911 and the police rushed out the area.  Officers found the woman dead in the truck.   

Police are calling this case a homicide, but aren't saying how she died.  They have virtually no leads and say this was not gang-related.

Crime techs and detectives combed the scene looking for evidence while friends and family of the victim gathered behind the yellow police tape at the end of the block in tears.

"A lovely beautiful person..she was a mom and my sister..she had kids..she was going to be a mom again...she was pregnant," said sister Yolanda Rodriguez.

The woman was dropping off a friend and was outside the truck.  Her family believes after she was shot, she climbed back into the truck in an attempt to get away, but died.

If you have any information that could help the police solve this case, call 602-262-6151.