A 29-year-old heavily pregnant nurse has left behind five children after she was killed in what cops claim was a targeted drive-by shooting.

Akeila Ware, 29, and her unborn child died after she was involved in a car crash and drive-by-shooting in Troup County, Georgia, on Tuesday, 5th October.

The news site WTVM reported that Akeila was found dead by cops in her Honda Accord on Highway 18 near E. Drummond Road.

The Honda was destroyed in the crash and was riddled with dozens of bullet holes.

Sgt. Stewart Ward, Troup County Sheriff’s Office, said: “We don’t believe it was random. We do believe that the suspect knew this victim and the victim knew the suspect, but we don’t have a good enough name to put out there yet. But we’re certainly working all the leads.”

The authorities believe that Akeila was forced off the road and crashed the car while being shot at.

Ward added: “Very bold, very cold, and very callous just to do this. And that’s why we certainly want to put a name with a shooter, so we can get that person, or if there were other people involved, get all of those people in custody.”

After they pulled the mother of five from her car, she was transferred to a nearby hospital.

Akeila and her unborn child died shortly after arriving at the hospital.

Twila Ware, Akeila’s mother, told FOX 5: “You know, it’s like you’re going to wake up out of it and, you know, it’s not gonna be true, it’s not gonna so.”

She went on to say that the pain she feels is unexplainable and that her daughter was an incredibly beautiful person.

Santoria Johnson, the victim’s cousin, said: “Akeila, she was a very smart, bright young lady.”

The family appealed to the public to come forward with any information that might lead to the arrest of the perpetrator.

The Georgia State Patrol is leading the investigation of the crash while the Troup County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the victim’s death.