WORLD : Motives Unknown as American Woman Is Shot to Death in Lebanon

BEIRUT — An American woman was shot in the head and killed while driving her car in north Lebanon, one of her friends said today.

Gail Pascoe Harfoush, 38, a native of Washington, D.C., was killed Wednesday afternoon as she drove her Mercedes-Benz from Tripoli to the village of Burj Akkar, 25 miles away, said her friend, Marilyn Rashka. Rashka said Harfoush was shot twice in the head and neck. The motive for the killing was unknown. The victim’s husband, Abdul-Majed Harfoush, works in Washington as a taxi driver. His wife had stayed in Lebanon because she was supervising workers building a house for the family, her friend said. The couple were married 16 years ago and have three children. The family has lived in north Lebanon for 3 1/2 years, Rashka said.