An 8-month pregnant woman and her unborn baby miraculously survived after the woman's boyfriend shot her in the abdomen, with the bullet passing through her and into the fetus. The baby girl was born prematurely and underwent surgery to remove the bullet.
Eric Patterson, 44, the victim's boyfriend, was arrested on 25/11, according to a statement from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Florida. He faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on a pregnant woman, tampering with physical evidence, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and child neglect.
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Eric Patterson upon arrest. Photo: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
According to police, the incident occurred early on 22/11. The 8-month pregnant victim was sleeping in bed with her two children when Eric Patterson shot her in the abdomen. The bullet passed through her abdomen and into the unborn baby's abdomen.
Around 5:20 h, police received a report that a pregnant woman with a gunshot wound to the abdomen had been taken to the emergency room of a regional hospital in Brandon. Hospital staff reported that Eric Patterson, who has 15 prior convictions, left immediately after bringing the victim to the hospital.
The victim underwent emergency surgery and induced labor. The baby girl, born prematurely, was then airlifted to Tampa General Hospital, where doctors successfully removed a bullet from her abdomen.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff commented, "What should have ended as a heartbreaking tragedy is now a miraculous story of survival and resilience. It is extraordinary that both the mother and newborn survived. Their strength in the face of this tragedy is a powerful reminder of the motivation for police to continue serving the community."
Authorities have not yet released further details about the shooting incident. Their 9-year-old daughter told police she woke up to a loud "boom" and saw her father, Eric Patterson, repeatedly saying, "I'm sorry, it was just an accident." The mother was holding her stomach and crying at the time.
The investigation is ongoing.
By Hai Thu (Sources: People, Law & Crime, Fox 13)
