Duval County

Police: Pregnant woman shot while sleeping at Jacksonville home, unborn baby dies

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — An unborn baby has died after police said a pregnant woman was shot while sleeping, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

Police said the shooting happened around 1:15 a.m. at a Woodland Acres apartment on Kona Avenue.

The woman and two others were asleep when she was shot once in the abdomen in what appears to be a targeted attack, JSO said.

She was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, but her unborn child did not survive.

A search is underway for a suspect.

Police said the woman, who is in her late 20s, was in the late term of the pregnancy.

A neighbor said he woke up to the victim’s mother frantically knocking on his door for help.

She said please, can you call the police and we opened the door, she said please call the police my daughter has been shot.” He said he called 911 immediately

The neighbor said the woman was far along in her pregnancy and would tell him she is expecting any day now.

Police have not released suspect information, only that the shooting was targeted.

While this woman survived, a spokesperson from Hubbard House, a domestic violence shelter pregnancy can be a dangerous time for women.

The CDC lists homicide as one of the leading cause of death among pregnant women.

If you are in a domestic violence situation and need help, you can call or text Hubbard House 24/7 at 904-354-3114