4-month pregnant Georgia woman shot dead while trying to protect 3-year-old son from gunfight outside home
ATHENS, GEORGIA: A pregnant mother was struck by a stray bullet right outside her home on Monday as she tried to protect her 3-year-old son.
Auriel Callaway, 24, died after she was taken to a hospital.
Callaway was from Athens, Georgia. At the time of the shooting, she was four months pregnant and was due to give birth in December. Her unborn child also died in the attack, according to Athens-Clarke County police spokesman Geof Gilland.
As soon as she heard the gunshots, she ran with her son, Mason, but was hit by a bullet and collapsed near her apartment.
As reported by Fox 5 Atlanta, eight people were taken into custody to be questioned about the incident.
However, they have been released with no charges filed.
WSB-TV reported that the victim grabbed her son and ran as an argument between two groups broke out and shots were fired.
The people were standing outside of her Clarke Gardens apartment around 9.30 pm when the incident took place.
Witness Jermaine Arnold shared, "She was a beautiful soul, you know, gentle – she really wasn’t out here as much, she was pregnant, a beautiful soul."
Gilland shared that he was unsure whether Callaway was an intended or accidental target.
One neighbor shared that Callaway was shielding her son and was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The police revealed that the child was unharmed and is in the care of relatives.
Her heartbroken sister, Standria Walker, shared, "She got hit with her son in her arms, and she's pregnant. That's my only sister. They took our baby away from us."
Family members of Callaway want the police to figure out who had fired the deadly shot so that they can get justice.
The authorities are asking all those with information to contact them immediately.