On Christmas Eve, a pregnant teenager got fatally shot, but the baby miraculously survived. It’s still unclear whether the shooting was at random or a targeted attack.
The only thing authorities know for sure is that 19-year-old pregnant teen, Jasmine Vega, passed away from the bullet wound. Shot while sleeping, her unborn child got saved but remains in a critical state, while the assailant remains at large.
The Tucson woman, living in southern Arizona, was married to Anthony Rivera, 18. Judging by her social media posts, where she proudly shared ultrasound scans, she seemed to be looking forward to becoming a mother.
At around 4:30 AM, Rivera’s family woke up to the sounds of the young mother-to-be screaming. Vega became unresponsive soon after.
Several projectile holes are in the residence’s wall, which indicates multiple gunshots. Police are yet unable to ascertain a murder motive and have no suspects yet.
Nobody else in the household seemed to be the target, as no one else was injured in the shooting. Vega was six months pregnant at the time of the incident.
After officers arrived on the scene, she got transported to her local hospital and pronounced DOA. Doctors delivered her unborn child successfully, but the baby is currently on life support.
In a video interview, her boyfriend looks heartbroken and especially regrets Vega’s mother not being around when everything happened. Neighborhood residents commented on an increased feeling of insecurity because of the shooting.
“Just sad for the young lady that I didn’t know, but to know she lived down the street from me, it’s just sad,” Luis Longoria told WDSU. “When it happens down the street, you just wonder, how dangerous is my city I live in?”
This article was inspired by SCALLYWAG AND VAGABOND // Pregnant Tucson woman, 19, shot dead while asleep, baby survives.