A woman in Alabama has been sentenced for the fatal shooting of a pregnant woman while surrounded by her children, even though she herself was pregnant at the time.
The Crime
Aaniyah Nowden, 24, was charged with capital murder in the death of 36-year-old Justina Wallace, the Birmingham Police Department announced in summer 2023. Prosecutors had sought the death penalty.
On July 7, 2023, Wallace was at a home on the 3200 Block of 17th Avenue North in Birmingham, a city with around 200,000 residents in central Alabama. Wallace, who was several months pregnant, was holding her toddler daughter while two of her sons stood nearby. Nowden, who was eight months pregnant, approached with a gun and shot Wallace.
Wallace was rushed to a nearby hospital but died the following day.
Relationship Between the Victim and Shooter
The father of Wallace’s toddler is reportedly also the father of Nowden’s child. Nowden gave birth to her baby while in custody following the incident.
Trial and Verdict
Nowden claimed self-defense, and her lawyers argued that Wallace had been “aggressive” and “belligerent” that day. Prosecutors, however, said Wallace posed no threat.
Deputy District Attorney Jason Wilson told AL.com, “This defendant shot and killed a pregnant woman who was carrying nothing but her baby Sky in her arms. Justina had no weapon, no gun, she wasn’t attacking anybody.”
Nowden’s first trial ended in a mistrial because there were not enough jurors. In the subsequent trial, jurors found Nowden guilty. On Friday, she was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
