Police: Man In Custody Confesses To Shooting Pregnant Woman
MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- A man allegedly confessed to the shooting death of a 21-year old pregnant woman in Miami Gardens and he was already in custody for unrelated charges, police said Wednesday.
For the past three months, police have been searching for leads but 20-year old Antwone Jackson confessed to the shooting, according to police.
It was a long and painful wait for the grieving family.
"Thank God for answering my prayer and having someone captured for the deaths of my daughter and her unborn child," said Marcella James, the victim's mother.
Jackson of Pembroke Pines has been charged with two counts of first degree murder for the shooting deaths of 21-year old Qualecia James and her unborn child.
James was gunned down on Sunday, March 29th in Miami Gardens. She was a passenger in a car driving on NW 32nd Avenue near 182nd Street.
"An unknown vehicle drove up beside them with an assault rifle and fired multiple times inside the vehicle," said Miami Gardens Police Chief Stephen Johnson at a press conference held Wednesday.
Police said she was not the intended target.
"We believe this is a case of mistaken identity," said Chief Johnson.
Two other people were in the car but were not hurt. James was rushed to the hospital, but didn't make it.
Her unborn son was delivered prematurely just before she passed. He survived for a short time but died five days later. James was already the mother of a 4-year old daughter.
While Jackson allegedly confessed, the search is not over for two other suspect police believed were involved in the shooting.
Leroy James, Qualecia's father, had a message for the two suspects police are still looking for.
"You can either walking or run. The choice is yours because this is a sad case for a girl to be pregnant and to be hit up like that," said Leroy James.
Jackson has been charged and is being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
Anyone with information is urged to call Miami Gardens Police or Miami-Dade Crimestopppers at (305) 471-TIPS.
Click here to watch Walter Makaula's report.
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