Former World champion Ishe Smith is struggling to come to terms with the death of his ex-wife after a fatal shooting in Las Vegas.

Latoya Woolen, 39 who was the mother of Smith’s three children aged 10, 11 and 15, this past weekend was shot in the back of the head for no apparent reason.

“The hardest thing now is to have to raise these kids without their mother … that’s devastating,” said Ishe Smith “You don’t shoot a woman in the back of the head, take her away from her three kids”

Smith met Woolen when they were just 18 years old. Their 10-year relationship gave the couple two sons and a daughter. The two eventually grew apart as Smith focused on his professional boxing career.

However, after all these years, when he lost Woolen, he lost family.

“One of the most painful things I’ve experienced … and I’ve experienced defeats and losses all my life … but this hurts me so bad,” said Smith.

Woolen was found outside the Dollar tree near Flamingo and Maryland on Sunday night, Police are yet to find her killer and are without a suspect.

Witness accounts claim that Woolen was waiting for a ride before she was shot, her personal possessions were not taken, Police believe she may have been targetted.

“That is the act of a coward … to shoot someone like that in cold blood … that is the act of a coward,” said Smith.

Smith struggles to imagine a life for the entire family without Woolen.

“Graduations and weddings and all the things that a parent is supposed to be proud of … she had that taken from her … so we’ll pray someone will come forward,” said Smith.