Monica Spear, the Ex-Miss Venezuela who rose to greater fame to become a Telenovela soap star, was killed in an attempted robbery. Spear's ex-husband was also shot and killed. Monica Spear's daughter was shot in the attack, but survived. Monica Spear was vacationing in Venezuela with her ex-husband and daughter.

Police say former model Monica Spear and her ex-husband were shot and killed during a highway robbery on the Valencia-Puerto Cabella highway. The 2004 Miss Venezuela winner was 29 years old. the government and local media said the pair's five-year-old daughter survived the attack late with a bullet wound in her leg.

Spears lived in Miami but was vacationing in Venezuela at the time of the attack.

According to local police, Monica Spear Mootz, 29, and her husband Henry Thomas Berry, 39, were on a family vacation with their daughter when their car was in a small accident that stranded their vehicle on the Valencia-Puerto Cabello highway. Police say armed men approached the car. Spear and Berry locked themselves inside the car. The robbers opened fire, injuring the child and killing the parents.

Spear had been living in Miami since leaving the Venezuela because of the country's growing violence. According to government figures, Venezuela's official homicide rate late year was 39 per 100,000 inhabitants. Non-government groups say those numbers are nearly twice as high for a total of 24,000 deaths. Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro declared that his number one priority was beating violent crime in the country. Polls consistently show violent crime to be Venezuelans' main concern.

After winning the Miss Universe beauty pageant and modeling, Monica Spear moved to acting and in several TV soaps, including Telemundo's "Flor Salvaje" in 2011 and "Pasión Prohibida" from 2013. She also appeared on "La Mujer Perfect" and "Mi Prima Ciela,"

In a statement, Telemundo said "We are deeply saddened by the horrible crime that affected the beloved actress Monica Spear and her family. Monica was not only a great professional as we saw in the two novelas she worked with us - but also an excellent person, always enthusiastic, full of strength and determination.  We wish a quick recovery to her daughter and send our deepest condolences to her family."

Jencarlos Canela who co-starred with Spear, mourned her death via Twitter, saying "I'm without words," he wrote. "I will miss my friend @MonicaSpear"

Diego Sanchez, who knew the family for six years, told NBC. "To think there are people who can shoot a mother and father in front of their daughter is very sad and unbelievable. And it's shocking when it happens to someone you know."

Venezuelan salsa singer Oscar D'Leon tweeted "I'm so sad for my Venezuela, my condolences for Monica Spear's family. Rage and impotence are what I feel right now."