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'Cowardly': Pregnant Woman Shot To Death In Front Of Home While Unloading Gifts From Her Baby Shower
Jessica Covington, who was seven months pregnant, was killed in what officials say was likely a targeted attack.
A pregnant Philadelphia woman was shot to death in front of her home while unloading gifts from her baby shower, according to authorities.
Jessica Covington, 32, was shot multiple times in both her head and stomach while unloading the presents from her Kia Soul by her home on Saturday evening, local outlet WPVI reports. Eleven shell casings were found at the scene, Philadelphia’s local CBS station reports.
“I heard like nine shots, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom," neighbor Denise Wilson told local outlet NBC10.
Both Covington, who was reportedly seven months pregnant, and her unborn child were both pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
Officials believe the shooting was targeted.
“Last night's murder of a pregnant woman and her unborn baby is absolutely heartbreaking," Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw stated on Sunday night. "While this attack appears to have been targeted, we will not rest until this obviously dangerous individual is in custody."
Outlaw also said she believes that the attack was domestic in nature.
“It seems to be a turn in the tide, years ago it was very very rare to hear of a woman getting shot, and now it seems to be more and more prevalent,” Deputy Police Commissioner Christine Coulter told CBS Philly.
She called out the suspect or suspects behind this particular attack as craven.
"The person who did this couldn't be more cowardly," she said, according to WPVI.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney announced a $50,000 reward Sunday for information that leads to an arrest.
Outlaw noted that Covington's death is one of many that has been recently plaguing the city of Philadelphia.
“This heinous crime has sent shock waves throughout the country, and also highlights the intentional lack of regard that we are seeing for humanity," she said in a statement. "And worse, all of this comes at a time when we are approaching another grim milestone. Soon, we will reach, and almost certainly surpass, 500 homicides in our beautiful city."
Anyone with any information about Covington's murder is urged to call the police at 215-686-TIPS.
