This Needs To Stop: Pregnant Black Woman And Unborn Child Fatally Shot In Philadelphia While Unpacking Baby Shower Gifts
Philadelphia police have reported that on Saturday night, a Black woman who was seven months pregnant was shot in her head and stomach after leaving her own baby shower. So far, no arrests have been made and a $50K reward has been offered for information that leads to a suspect in custody.
According to NBC 10 Philadelphia, 32-year-old Jessica Covington was steps away from her home and was unloading gifts from her baby shower when a gunman opened fire.
“I heard like nine shots, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom,” Denise Wilson, Covington’s neighbor, told NBC.
This is #JessicaCovington as seen on her Instagram. @PhillyPolice say she just returned from her baby shower (7 months pregnant) when she was shot in the head and stomach and killed. Her unborn baby did not survive. Friends say she had just driven her mom home too. @FOX29philly pic.twitter.com/GGzVazPMBK
— Dave Kinchen 🇺🇸 (@DaveKinchenUSA) November 22, 2021
Officers reportedly took Covington to Einstein Medical Center where she was pronounced dead at 9:06 p.m. and her unborn child was pronounced dead about 10 minutes later, CNN reported.
No weapons were recovered from the scene and no motive for the senseless killing been reported. The Philadelphia Inquirer recently reported that police were questioning a suspect but they’re still collecting evidence and charges were not yet filed.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney tweeted Sunday that “The City is offering a $50,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest,” along with a contact number for citizens to call with information.
This news is deeply upsetting and heartbreaking. My heart goes out to the victim’s loved ones during this painful time.
The City is offering a $50,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest. Contact @phillypolice by calling or texting 215-686-8477.https://t.co/lOgwx1WcUj
— Jim #VaxUpPhilly Kenney (@PhillyMayor) November 21, 2021
Covington’s story is eerily similar to that of 31-year-old Shanice Young, who was one year younger than Covington was and nine months pregnant when she was shot and killed in Harlem, New York. The suspect believed to be the shooter in that case is her ex-boyfriend and the father of one of her other children. Young was also shot after leaving her own baby shower and while unloading gifts into the lobby of her apartment building.
Source: Handout
At some point, we are really going to have to examine the possibility that we are not doing enough to protect Black women, or, in this case, their unborn children.
These stories are heartbreakingly sad and this needs to stop.
Balloons are released in honor of a 32-year-old pregnant woman identified by a police source and friends as #JessicaCovington who was shot and killed last night on the 6100 block of #Palmetto. @PhillyPolice say her unborn baby of 7 months also died. @FOX29philly pic.twitter.com/Vg4DwRT8rM
— Dave Kinchen 🇺🇸 (@DaveKinchenUSA) November 22, 2021
