An Atlanta mother is battling for her life after shielding her infant son from his father's gunfire, which resulted in her being shot three times, including twice in the face. This harrowing tale of domestic violence and survival came to light after Jalen Morris, 24, was attacked by her ex-boyfriend who, after shooting her, turned the gun on himself. According to a report by 11Alive, the young mother is now paralyzed from the waist down and faces a lifetime of challenges and medical rehabilitation.
During a normal day gone tragically askew, on August 25, Jalen found herself gravely wounded and hovering protectively over her 6-week-old baby, Ja'siah. What began with an unsettling call, her parents, Jennifer and Cal Morris, would find her ventilated in a hospital bed, said Jennifer in an interview obtained by 11Alive. The chilling incident has now galvanized them to speak out on domestic violence, hoping to aid others suffering in similar situations.
The assailant, identified as 28-year-old Justin Wynne-Combs, inflicted injuries severe enough to necessitate multiple surgeries. While Jennifer Morris, told Newsweek, that her daughter's survival was a miracle, she also expressed her previous discomfort with Wynne-Combs, having banned him from their home due to his disrespect towards Jalen.
In sharing their ordeal, the family has started a TikTok channel to discuss domestic violence, a topic which Jennifer said is often taboo even on social media platforms. "It's taboo, even on platforms like TikTok," Jennifer explained, "if you use the words domestic violence, you write those words, it (the video) gets taken down," she conveyed in a statement to 11Alive. This online bid is coupled with an online fundraiser to help cover the medical expenses and home modifications necessary for Jalen's new life in a wheelchair.
In response to this incident and many others, domestic violence resources in Georgia are providing support to those in need. For any individuals facing similar dangers, Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence at 1-800-33-HAVEN (1-800-334-2836), and Partnership Against Domestic Violence in Metro Atlanta available at 404-873-1766, offer a lifeline to anyone threatened by intimate partner violence. Meanwhile, Jalen and her family continue to fight, not just for her recovery but also to change the narrative about what it means to survive such trauma, for her son and for all who witness their story of resilience.
