Pregnant woman Auriel Callaway, 24, was hit by a stray bullet and killed on July 22 in Georgia while holding her toddler.
She was struck by the bullet that was fired during a violent conflict.
Callaway’s 2 or 3-year-old toddler was uninjured but the unborn child in her womb did not survive. The young mother was about 4 months into her pregnancy at the time.
Police were called to an apartment complex on Carriage Court at about 9:40 p.m. where they found the wounded Callaway who was rushed to a local hospital but later pronounced dead.
Jermaine Arnold said she witnessed the shooting. She said she knew Callaway and remembered the mother as a “beautiful soul,” according to ABC. “She really wasn’t out here as much … God took her away from us too early.”
Her sister, Standria Walker, said that Callaway had a “heart of gold” and had no direct relation with the violent conflict.
“She said, ‘I’m fixing to go, y’all. I’m taking my baby in the house,’” Walker told WSB-TV.
“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.”
#BREAKING: A pregnant mother murdered outside of her Athens apartment. @accpolice have detained multiple people for investigative purposes. Neighbors say Auriel Callaway was shielding her child from gunfire when she was shot. @FOX5Atlanta | https://t.co/ip0E3pkopA pic.twitter.com/N4wMekyydp
— Dixon Fletcher FOX 5 (@DFletcherFOX5) July 23, 2019
The local police have detained several people in their investigation, reported Fox 5.
Athens-Clarke County resident Kiresa Cooper was taken into custody by the police on Wednesday and is facing two charges for felony murder and aggravated assault after Callaway’s death, reported ABC.
Police made an arrest in the murder of a pregnant woman. They say 27 y/o Kiresa Cooper is the shooter. Witnesses said it all started w/kids arguing, adults started shooting & a stray bullet hit & killed Auriel Callaway & her unborn child. Ch2 at 4 pic.twitter.com/Db1clPjOIU
— Tyisha Fernandes (@TyishaWSB) July 25, 2019
“Somebody gonna pay for this,” Walker said.
Walker told WSB, “All my sister did was take care of her son and the rest of our family.”
“All my sister did was take care of her son & the rest of our family.” I spoke to the family of a pregnant woman killed by a stray bullet. She was holding her 3 y/o son Mason when she was shot. He wasn’t injured, but Ariel Callaway & inborn Baby does. 5pm Ch2 pic.twitter.com/2o7o8tryB7
— Tyisha Fernandes (@TyishaWSB) July 23, 2019
19 Shot in Bloody Chicago Weekend
More than a dozen people were wounded and two killed in shootings throughout Chicago on July 19.
WBBM-TV reports that 19 people were shot overnight, including six people who were wounded in a 3:30 a.m. shootout between two groups outside the Theater on the Lake on the city’s North Side.
Police say one group was leaving the lakefront and another was arriving when an argument started. Shots were fired by individuals in both groups. No arrests have been made.
A hot weekend in Chicago has gotten off to a violent start, with more than a dozen people wounded and two killed in shootings throughout the city: https://t.co/hnbzAZYlhZ
— FOX 32 News (@fox32news) July 20, 2019
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that two men also died in separate shootings Friday night, July 19, on the city’s South Side.
In another shooting on the city’s West Side, a 14-year-old girl was struck in the foot and arm around 9:45 p.m. July 19 when someone fired shots into a group of people.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
