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Gun Violence: Woman Pregnant With Twins Struck by Stray Bullet

Lakira Renee Johnson went into labor due to the horrific event.

A pregnant, 21-year-old woman in Washington, D.C., was hit by a stray bullet on August 30 outside of a carryout restaurant. 

Lakira Renee Johnson was pregnant with twins when she was shot, yet it appeared the bullet missed her uterus, so she expected her babies to be fine. However, last Saturday, Johnson, only five months pregnant, unexpectedly went into labor while at the MedStar Washington Hospital Center. The twins, named Heaven and Neveah, were born alive, but died soon after being birthed.

Cassandra Johnson, Lakira’s mother, told the Washington Post that after her daughter went into labor, she underwent surgery to repair the damage caused by the gunshot. The twins were taken to the medical examiner’s office, yet a cause of death has not been disclosed.

Johnson, who has two other children, ages 3 and 7, was shot while picking up a cheesesteak near the 1300 block of Brentwood Road. Another man was shot and critically wounded during the incident.

Police say Johnson was not the intended target of the shooting. No arrests have been made following the shooting; however, officials are investigating whether the shooting is connected to an incident that occurred earlier in the day.

In some states, prosecutors can seek murder charges in the death of a fetus. D.C., however, does not currently have any fetal homicide laws.

Police have released a video of a person of interest. Any information on this person or their whereabouts should be directed to the Metropolitan Police Department. 

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