Pregnant Philadelphia Woman Shot Dead After Her Baby Shower | She Was Just Unloading The Gifts She Got

Editor's note: This article was originally published on November 24, 2021. It has since been updated.

Trigger Warning: This story discusses murder and gun violence that may be disturbing to readers. 

A 33-year-old heavily pregnant woman who was unloading the gifts she'd gotten at her own baby shower was brutally shot to death in the Lawncrest section of Northeast Philadelphia. The woman—who was 7 months pregnant—was on the 6100 block of Palmetto Street around 8:30 pm on November 20, 2021, when she was shot multiple times in the head and stomach, reports NBC Philadelphia. Authorities are describing the shooting as “domestic” in nature.

Officers took the woman, identified by police sources as 32-year-old Jessica Covington, to Einstein Medical Center where she was pronounced dead at 9:06 pm. Her unborn child was declared dead about 10 minutes later, police said, according to CNN. Authorities said at least 11 gunshot wounds targeted her abdomen, cites CBS Philly. “The killings are getting worse it seems like we’re under siege here, we’re under siege here,” Deputy Police Commissioner Christine Coulter said on the night of the tragic incident. 

“I heard like nine shots, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom," said neighbor Denise Wilson. “It’s just horrific what happened," Wilson said. "It’s just a horrific murder, and I hope someone finds whoever did this.” Coulter added that there was a cop on patrol two blocks away from where the incident occurred, who first heard the shots being fired. "There was an officer a couple of blocks away who heard the shots. When they came here, they discovered her shot several times," Coulter said. "The person that did this couldn't be more cowardly."

“Last night’s murder of a pregnant woman and her unborn baby is absolutely heartbreaking,” Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said. “While this attack appears to have been targeted, we will not rest until this obviously dangerous individual is in custody. I am pleased that the Mayor has increased the reward for the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator to $50,000." As of November 21, 2021, at least 491 homicides had been reported in Philadelphia, this year alone. This is a 13% increase from last year, which was one of the deadliest years on record.

"Soon, we will reach, and almost certainly surpass, 500 homicides in our beautiful city," Outlaw said. "This unconscionable loss of life is almost too much to bear. On its own, 500 lives cut short is a staggering number. But whatever the final total, what this number can never truly show are the thousands of other lives impacted by sudden and tragic loss. The Philadelphia Police Department will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners and other stakeholders to get ahead of the violent crime that is plaguing our beautiful communities."

Meanwhile, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney tweeted on November 21, 2021, that the city is offering a $50,000 reward for information about the person or people behind the attack. "This news is deeply upsetting and heartbreaking. My heart goes out to the victim's loved ones during this painful time," Kenney wrote.

No arrests have so far been made in connection to Saturday night's shooting and no weapons recovered, the department said in its release.

References:

https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/police-pregnant-woman-shot-killed-in-lawncrest/3055183/

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/11/21/us/philadelphia-pregnant-woman-shot/index.html

https://www.phillypolice.com/crime-maps-stats/

Cover Image Source (Representative): Getty Images