A 20-year-old eight-month pregnant woman named Jennifer Hernandez was shot and killed while leaving a gas station in Houston, Texas, and law enforcement officers are still trying to make sense of the reckless incident. Hernandez was in a vehicle with her boyfriend as they left Airtex Drive and Ella Boulevard on Friday evening, and within seconds, a white vehicle pulled up behind them and began firing several shots.
According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, the pair had just gotten to an intersection when the other car approached the couple. What’s more, the tragic shooting occurred just one day before Hernandez was expected to attend her baby shower as she was just weeks away from welcoming her bundle of joy. Both Hernandez and her unborn child were pronounced dead after being rushed to a nearby hospital, KTRK reports.
Jennifer Hernandez couldn’t wait to become a mother. She was so excited for her baby shower this past weekend. But she didn’t make it. She was murdered in a drive-by Friday night. Her killer, still out there. Now #Onlyon13 a witness is speaking out pic.twitter.com/IFdcnHjwaM
— Brooke Taylor (@ABC13Brooke) September 19, 2022
“We are absolutely devastated by Jennifer’s passing,” an official GoFundMe page for Hernandez read. “Nana was a wonderful daughter, a wonderful sister, and would have been a wonderful mother.” Her boyfriend, 17, who witnesses, per ABC13, say was pleading for someone to help his ailing girlfriend, told cops he had no idea of who the person was that targeted them. He, too, was shot twice but survived.
“According to the driver, he said there was no interaction before that. They did stop at the gas station (but) he said he has no idea where the vehicle came from,” Sergeant Ben Beall of the sheriff’s office declared. “It just came out of nowhere started shooting at him.”
It was also explained that the boyfriend was wearing a “ski mask” for Covid-19 health reasons.
Family and friends of Hernandez are now trying to raise $20,000 for her funeral, having raised just below $4,000 as of Monday evening. Relatives have since taken to social media to pay tribute to their loved one, who they say had big plans for her future, which included opening her own nail business and being a hands-on first-time mother to her baby.
This is 20-year-old Jennifer Hernandez. She was eight months pregnant and excited to welcome her little boy into the world. But the day before her baby shower, she and her unborn child died after she was found shot in a car in north Harris County. Live report 10pm @abc13houston pic.twitter.com/hE1N7oB7Mv
— Brooke Taylor (@ABC13Brooke) September 19, 2022
“Due to this unexpected loss of her and her unborn baby, the family has incurred a substantial amount of expenses,” the GoFundMe description read. “If you would like to help with the family’s financial burden, any donation would be greatly appreciated. All funds raised will go directly to the Hernandez family for funeral expenses.
“On behalf of Luz Gabriela and Santos, their closest friends, and the entire Hernández family, I appreciate the outpouring of love, prayers, and support shown in recent days and, no doubt, in the coming months.”