A weekend trip from Phoenix to San Diego ended in tragedy early Saturday when a 17-year-old girl, about 32 weeks pregnant, was shot and killed, according to police. Officers responding to gunfire on the 4900 block of Gardena Avenue found the teen with gunshot wounds; she was taken to a hospital, where she later died. A man believed to be her boyfriend was arrested within hours.
San Diego police said the victim had been visiting from Phoenix when the shooting broke out on Gardena Avenue. In the aftermath, officers identified a suspect and moved quickly to track him down.
Investigators named 19-year-old Trevon Williams of Phoenix as the suspect. He was arrested near September Street at about 3 a.m., and officers recovered a semi-automatic handgun nearby. Detectives told reporters that Williams will be booked into San Diego County Jail on a murder charge as they continue interviewing witnesses, according to 12News.
Police Ask Witnesses To Come Forward
The San Diego Police Department’s Homicide Unit is leading the investigation and has been interviewing witnesses at the scene and beyond. Detectives are asking anyone who saw or heard anything to come forward.
The department lists its Homicide Unit contact number as 619-531-2293, and anonymous tips can be left with San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477, per the San Diego Police Department.
Infant Delivered, Remains Critical
After the shooting, medical personnel performed an emergency cesarean section. The infant survived the delivery but remains in critical condition, according to 12News. The teen was reported to be about 32 weeks pregnant, and investigators said the scene remains under active review as detectives continue to process evidence.
Pregnancy And Violence: A Troubling Pattern
This case follows a sobering national pattern: pregnancy does not insulate women from violence. The Centers for Disease Control reports that women who are pregnant or within a year of pregnancy experience higher homicide rates than nonpregnant women. Academic research has also linked higher state-level firearm prevalence with increased pregnancy-associated homicide. These findings are outlined by the CDC and research published in JAMA Network Open.
What Comes Next
The San Diego Police Homicide Unit said the investigation is ongoing, with detectives continuing interviews and evidence processing before presenting their findings to prosecutors. Anyone with information is asked to call the Homicide Unit at 619-531-2293 or San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477, according to the San Diego Police Department.
