Adriana Jimenez, 22, a pregnant mother of one, has been taken off life support after being shot in the head and declared brain dead. Her unborn child also died.
Jimenez and her sister, Maria Fernanda Jimenez, were sitting in a car in an alleyway near their Canoga Park, California home around 8 a.m. on August 23 when the shooting occurred. Jimenez, who was 16 weeks pregnant, sustained a fatal head wound. Her sister was shot in the neck and is expected to survive, though the injury has left her unable to speak.
Walter Rodriguez Garcia, 30, was arrested last week in connection with the shooting and charged with three counts of attempted murder. Prosecutors indicated they planned to upgrade the charges if Jimenez was taken off life support. Garcia has pleaded not guilty, according to court records.
The family had been preparing to celebrate Jimenez's birthday on September 11 and to hold a gender reveal party. "It's hard to hear her daughter ask: 'When is Mommy coming back? I want Mommy with me,'" a relative told NBC Los Angeles.
Jimenez had been fighting for her life for nine days before doctors declared her brain dead. Her family is considering repatriating her body to El Salvador, where she was originally from. She had been in the U.S. for two years.
Jimenez leaves behind a six-year-old daughter. Her family has started a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral expenses, medical costs, and support for her daughter. The fundraiser aims to assist with the repatriation of Jimenez's remains and ensure her young daughter is cared for during this time.
The family is seeking justice for Jimenez and her unborn child. The Los Angeles Police Department and the Jimenez family have been contacted for comment.