A 22-year-old pregnant woman, Adriana Jimenez, has died after being shot in the head in Canoga Park, California, on August 23. Jimenez, who was 16 weeks pregnant, was on life support before it was turned off. She also had a six-year-old daughter.
Jimenez and her sister, Maria Fernanda Jimenez, were sitting in their car outside their apartment around 8 a.m. when an attacker approached and fired shots. Maria Fernanda Jimenez sustained two gunshot wounds, one to the neck, but is expected to recover. The baby also died.
Walter Francisco Rodriguez Garcia of Gardena has been arrested in connection with the shooting. According to the family, Garcia is the ex-boyfriend of one of the Jimenez sisters' cousins. He was initially charged with three counts of attempted murder. Prosecutors stated they would pursue additional charges following Jimenez's death. Garcia has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Court records indicate he has a prior record, having been charged with battery and vandalism in 2022, for which he was later acquitted.
The family states the shooting was not gang-related and that the suspect was known to them. Adriana Jimenez's uncle told ABC7 that he does not understand the motive behind the attack. The sisters had been out with cousins earlier on the day of the shooting.
A GoFundMe has been established to assist with funeral expenses and to support Jimenez's surviving daughter. Her aunt, Vilma Carranza, wrote on the fundraising page that the family is facing unexpected medical and funeral costs, and potentially the repatriation of Jimenez's remains. The funds are intended for either cremation or transport of Jimenez's body to El Salvador.
The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the incident. The California Post reached out to the LAPD for comment on whether a motive has been determined but had not received an immediate response.