Samya Gill pregnant model, 22 eight months pregnant, shot inside D.C car gives birth before dying as authorities have yet to capture two gunmen. No known motive.
A 22 year old pregnant model shot while inside her car in Washington D.C last week gave birth by C-section before dying of her injuries.
Samya Gill, who was eight months pregnant, and the father of her unborn child were sitting in the parked car on 37th Street SE about 11:20 a.m. Thursday when two men bearing assault rifles pulled up in their vehicle, jumped out and opened gunfire, police said.
The woman’s husband, who was struck by the gunfire, drove off and stopped the bullet-riddled car at a busy intersection about a mile away at Minnesota Avenue and Dix Street, WJLA reported.
14 gunshots fired into car
Gill, of Fort Washington, Maryland, was rushed to an area hospital, where she gave birth before succumbing to her injuries.
The baby was listed in critical condition, cops said.
‘The adult male is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries,’ police said of the second victim.
According to the authorities, the two gunmen fired at least 14 shots into the car, hitting Gill and the father of Gill’s child who was driving but not the unborn child directly.
Police released surveillance camera images showing the suspects – one wearing a white jacket and hoodie and the other wearing dark clothes – shooting as they run toward the victims’ car.
The gunmen’s white four-door sedan also is pictured in the police release.
Surveillance footage captured the shooters fleeing in the vehicle they arrived in.
Targeted attack?
Police said the shooting was a targeted attack, adding that they did not yet know the motive.
‘This is a brazen act. It happened in the middle of the day,’ Assistant Chief of Patrol Andre Wright told reporters.
Gill’s mother, who did not want to be identified, told WJLA that her daughter, one of seven children, was a model and ran an online clothing boutique, but had recently devoted all her time to prepare for her baby.
She said that her granddaughter was delivered by C-section after the attack.
‘She’s beautiful. I went to go see her last night and she’s just gorgeous,’ the mom told WJLA. ‘I just really hope they catch whoever did that to my daughter.’
The mother does not believe her daughter was specifically targeted.
‘I just think she was in the car [at the] wrong place, wrong time,’ the mom told ABC7. ‘I’m crushed, I’m devastated of course. I’m lost, I’ve been all over the place.’
No known motive as D.C homicides jump year over year
The mother said that if the baby survives, she will raise the child, who, according to a GoFundMe page, is named Zailey.
‘This is really devastating for my family, and a huge financial burden. We are asking if there’s anything you all can donate, we’d greatly appreciate it. There is no amount to big or too small,’ the fundraiser stated.
Gill’s killing was one of four homicides last week in DC, according to the Washington Post.
As of Friday, homicides in the nation’s capital were up 16% compared with the same time in 2022.
Last year, the city surpassed 200 killings for only the second time in almost 20 years, the outlet reported.
A reward of up to $25,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the suspects in Thursday’s attack.
To date there have been no arrests as authorities continue to investigate.
