Cops are looking for an Uber driver suspected of shooting a pregnant woman three times, including twice in her belly, leaving her needing emergency surgery to deliver the baby two months early.
The 36-year-old woman, name not disclosed, was shot three times outside her home in the city of College Park in the US state of Georgia on Saturday, 19th February.
The victim, who was seven months pregnant at the time, sustained two bullet wounds to her stomach and one to her upper right thigh.
She was rushed to hospital, where doctors decided to deliver her baby early. The police said on Monday that both mother and infant are in a stable condition.
Her father Kenneth Anderson told local media that he saw his daughter arrive home in the taxi at about 10pm, adding that he heard shots just a few seconds later.
He said: “I was running wild. I probably dialled 911 like 10 times.”
According to Anderson, his daughter managed to explain that she became embroiled in a row with the Uber driver after he picked her up in a different vehicle than the one showing on her app.
The father has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for his daughter’s medical costs (www.gofundme.com/f/2dhxa-miracle-baby), where he wrote: “Hello I’m Kenneth Anderson My Daughter was shot on late Saturday Night by an Uber Driver. My daughter was 7 months pregnant. She was shot 3 times 2 times directly in the stomach and 1 time in the upper right thigh.
“My Daughter was rushed to the emergency room where they had to take the baby pre maturely. Right now my daughter is in ICU and the Baby is a premie and fighting to survive. We are asking the public to help raise money for both of their Medical Expenses at this time.”
The police are aware of the shooter’s identity and are currently trying to track him down.
Uber said in a statement on Monday: “The details surrounding the horrific act of violence towards the rider and her newborn are nauseating and our thoughts are [with] them as they recover.”
Uber added that it has deactivated the driver and contacted the victim to offer support.
The investigation continues.
