A pregnant Ohio high school student was shot and left paralyzed during an alleged robbery while meeting someone she connected with on Snapchat.
Angel, 18, was nearly six months pregnant when she was wounded during an attack that sent her into premature labor in Toledo, Ohio, on Saturday, her mom told WTVG.
The teen and her boyfriend drove to a home on Greenway Avenue near the University of Toledo campus to meet someone they had connected with through Snapchat, according to a police report.
A man dressed entirely in black approached the couple’s vehicle when they arrived at the location and pointed a gun at the boyfriend’s head, demanding money, authorities said.
Police said the boyfriend attempted to wrestle the weapon away from the suspect during the confrontation.
In the struggle, the gun went off, striking Angel, who was sitting inside the vehicle.
“The guy pulls the trigger, and it hits my daughter in the left arm and goes through her side. Right above the baby, by the grace of God, misses the baby, but lodges in her chest,” Angel’s mom said.
The bullet narrowly missed the unborn child, but Angel suffered a fracture to her spine that has left her paralyzed just months before she is due to give birth.
“She has a spinal fracture at the 12th vertebrae, so she’s currently paralyzed now,” her mom said.
“And that’s going to be difficult enough — because she can’t really use her right arm either — and she’s got a baby on the way.”
Angel is now 26 weeks pregnant and remains hospitalized as doctors monitor both her condition and that of her unborn baby.
Loved ones are grappling with the possibility that the teenager may never fully recover from her injuries and could face significant challenges caring for her child after birth.
“It’s the worst feeling in the world to see your kid suffering and not being able to do anything about it,” her mom said.
Police have not announced any arrests in connection with the shooting, and the investigation remains ongoing.
As Angel continues her recovery, family members have launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover mounting medical expenses and support the young mom-to-be.
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