The RCMP have identified the woman shot to death in a luxury car in Surrey on Monday as 23-year-old Nicole Marie Alemy of White Rock.

Her four-year-old son was sitting in the back seat of the vehicle at the time of the attack.

RCMP Cpl. Dale Carr of the Integrated Homicide Team (IHIT) said Monday he was "amazed" that the boy was unharmed. "He seems to be doing just fine," he said.

It appears the woman may have been shot in the head, and the boy has since been taken into government care for his own safety.

This incident looks to be the latest in a series of shootings in the Metro Vancouver region, which has alarmed authorities, and prompted the provincial government to add more police and resources to deal with the outbreak of violent gun play.

Alemy was described by family friends as a devoted warm-hearted mother, with a zest for life.

CTV has learned that the white Cadillac she was driving when she died in a hail of gunfire Monday was leased to her husband Koshan Alemy. He was charged with various firearm offenses that were later stayed.

Nicole lived in a high end apartment building in Whiterock, but was in the process of moving out.

With a report by CTV British Columbia's Julia Foy.