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Pregnant Philly woman shot 11 times while unloading gifts in suspected targeted attack

Mayor offers $50,000 reward for info leading to arrest as the suspect is still unidentified and calls incident 'upsetting and heartbreaking'

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA: A seven-month pregnant woman became the latest victim of gun violence in Philadelphia on November 20, 2021. At around 8.30 pm, the woman was reportedly shot multiple times in front of her home in Lawncrest. Neither she nor her baby survived. So far, police are yet to get any leads on the suspect and are asking for help from the public.

On October 5, Akeila Ware, another pregnant woman was shot and killed in Troup County, Georgia. Days later, a soldier stationed at Fort Bragg was arrested in connection with the shooting. Before Ware, the nation was left captivated by the sudden killed of Keishla Rodriguez Ortiz, which was eventually linked to boxer Felix Verdejo. Like Ware and the unnamed Philly woman, Ortiz was also pregnant. 

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In both the cases of Ortiz and Ware, it is believed the women were targeted because they were pregnant. Verdejo was reportedly the father of Ortiz's child, while Alonzo Dargan Jr was believed to have fathered Ware's child before he brutally killed her. It's unclear if a similar situation has played out in Philadelphia. 

Woman shot while unloading presents

Police say the woman, who is yet to be publicly identified, was unloading gifts from her car when the incident happened. Around 8.30 pm, shots rang out in the 6100 block of Palmetto Street. When police arrived, they found the 32-year-old with bullets in her head and stomach. She was quickly taken to Einstein Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. Reportedly, the woman was unloading gifts from her baby shower at the time.

CBS Philly reported that an officer who was just a couple of blocks away was the first to respond. So far, no information has been gathered about the shooter. Police only recovered 11 shell casings at the scene and no weapons. "The person that did this couldn't be more cowardly," slammed Deputy Police Commissioner Christine Coulter. She added, "it looks like someone was targeting her, looking for her." 

Mayor Jim Kenney also got involved, tweeting, "This news is deeply upsetting and heartbreaking. My heart goes out to the victim’s loved ones during this painful time." He also said the city was offering a $50,000 reward or information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with any information is urged to call Philadelphia Police at 215-686-8477.

CBS Philly has identified the victim, but we are choosing not to do so until the police do. Philadelphia is currently facing a massive homicide crisis, with a 13% increase in cases between 2020 and 2021 (to date). By the end of 2020, the city had recorded 499 homicides, one short of the record 500 seen in 1990. Frustrated residents have called for more to be done, but Coulter noted "We can't stop people who are intent on shooting somebody."