A woman who lost her unborn baby after she was shot during an argument in the US State of Alabama has been charged with manslaughter.
AL.com reports that 27-year-old Marshae Jones was taken into custody last night after she was indicted by a County grand jury.
While Ms Jones is not accused of firing the shots that killed the five-month old foetus; police say she started the fight that led to the gunfire.
At the time of the incident Pleasant Grove Police Lt. Danny Reid said the “only true victim in this was the unborn baby.”
He claimed Ms Jones started the argument and continued it, adding that the unborn child “had no choice in being brought unnecessarily into a fight where she was relying on her mother for protection.”
He said the argument was over the unborn baby’s father.
Ms Jones survived the shooting but lost her baby after she was shot in the stomach.
Police initially charged another woman with the manslaughter; however, the grand jury has opted not to indict her.
Marshae Jones was indicted for manslaughter for losing a pregnancy after being shot in the abdomen FIVE times. Her shooter remains free. We're going to get Marshae out of jail and assist with her legal representation. #reprojustice #reproductivejusticehttps://t.co/PZNf3aNUe2 pic.twitter.com/gVvGI6DwMq
— Abortion Should Be Free (@YellowFund) June 27, 2019
Women’s rights activists have voiced their outrage at the reports, with the Yellowhammer Fund, an organisation which helps women access abortion services pledging to get her out of jail and assist in her defence.
In a statement it said: “Today, Marshae Jones is being charged with manslaughter for being pregnant and getting shot while engaging in an altercation with a person who had a gun.”
“Tomorrow, it will be another black woman, maybe for having a drink while pregnant - and after that, another, for not obtaining adequate prenatal care.”
NARAL Pro-Choice America President Ilyse Hogue said: “This what 2019 looks like for a pregnant woman of colour without means in a red state. This is now.”
Today, Marshae Jones was indicted for homicide when someone shot her in the stomach while she was pregnant, ending her pregnancy. They said she "started it." The shooter went free. This what 2019 looks like for a pregnant woman of color without means in a red state. This is now.
— Ilyse Hogue (@ilyseh) June 27, 2019
