Melvin Richmond: Chicago man shoots pregnant mom of his 8-year-old daughter, killing her unborn child
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: New information was provided after a Chicago man was accused of shooting the mother of his 8-year-old child through the door of her home last month, killing her unborn child. Melvin Richmond, 30, and the victim, 30, have an 8-year-old daughter together, according to authorities. The woman was 14 weeks pregnant with her fiance's child at the time of the incident.
Richmond, according to a proffer given in court on Friday, January 6, took his and the victim's child to a Christmas celebration on December 26. Richmond was driving the child back to the victim's house in East Garfield Park at 2:40 am when he pocket-dialed the victim, according to prosecutors. The victim allegedly heard Richmond being disrespectful to their child, as reported by Fox 32.
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Prosecutors claim that the 8-year-old saw the offender carrying a black gun with a laser attachment while riding in the car as well as on the dashboard of the vehicle. Richmond then dropped their daughter off at the victim's house where the victim's fiance, as well as the victim's younger son and nephews, were all present at the time. The 8-year-old told her mother that her father had yelled at her, after which the mother contacted Richmond, there was a verbal altercation between the two, according to the prosecutors.
The mother heard a loud banging at the front door a short while after the call, and Richmond was arguing about the earlier conversation. The victim, though, pushed back against his punches to the door. Richmond and the victim were arguing with one another through the front door when Richmond allegedly opened fire, wounding the victim in the left flank, right lower thigh, and back. Prosecutors said Richmond fled the residence and fired further bullets into the victim's fiance's vacant vehicle parked across the street from the residence which resulted in the passenger side doors of the vehicle being damaged.
When emergency workers came, they took her to the nearest hospital, where she underwent surgery to remove her gallbladder and her bowel. Prosecutors said that the victim had a miscarriage as a result of the trauma she experienced. According to authorities, there were three spent 9mm round casings found outside the victim's door, and seven more 9mm shell casings and one piece were found near the victim's fiance's car. Richmond was unquestionably recognized by the victim as the shooter.
Melvin Richmond, 30, is being held without bond and is charged with three felonies: involuntary manslaughter of an unborn child, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and attempted first-degree murder.