A mother in California was declared brain dead after she was shot in the head while 14 weeks pregnant with her second baby.
Adriana Jimenez was shot while sitting in a car alongside her sister Maria Fernanda Jimenez outside of their apartment in the Canoga Park neighborhood on August 23. Her family has since announced that she has officially been declared brain dead.
The siblings’ uncle told KABC on Thursday, September 3, that both Adriana and Maria Fernanda were shot by the gunman. Maria Fernanda was shot twice and is expected to recover. Adriana was shot in the head.
Adriana also miscarried after the shooting, seemingly a result of her injuries. “Sadly, her baby also died,” the uncle told the outlet.
The Los Angeles Police Department is still in the process of investigating the shooting and the gunman has been arrested. However, the name of the suspect or their exact relationship to the victims has not yet been publicly announced.
“The suspect is someone who is close to the family,” the uncle said. “He is known to the family. We don’t understand why he made that decision.”
The uncle went on to add that the shooting “has nothing to do with gangs,” but a suspected motive is not currently known.
He then said that the situation was “tragic” and that he “couldn’t believe” that it happened.The family is now dealing with the aftermath of the tragedy, including caring for Adriana’s 6-year-old daughter.
“That’s the hardest part, knowing the little girl calls out for her mom and cries for her,” the uncle said. “We know that we have to be strong, unite as a family and move past this tragedy.”
Following her killing, Adriana’s family set up a GoFundMe so that her remains can either be cremated or returned back to her native El Salvador. The fundraiser has earned more than half of its $10,000 goal as of time of publication.
Adriana was remembered as “the loving mother of a beautiful 6-year-old daughter who will now have to grow up without her mom” on the fundraising page.
“No child should have to experience a loss like this,” the GoFundMe page added. “And our hearts are shattered knowing the difficult road that lies ahead for her.”
The LAPD told Us that the department is unable to provide any updates in the case due to the ongoing nature of the investigation.
