JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The family of Iyana McGraw, a pregnant teenager who was shot three days before she was set to give birth to her first child, said Wednesday the child is in stable condition after miraculously surviving the shooting.
McGraw, 19, was found shot inside an apartment on Justina Road near Justina Road Elementary School around 8 p.m. on Monday, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. McGraw was later pronounced dead at an area hospital, but her child was saved by doctors.
McGraw's aunt Gloria McGraw spoke to News4Jax about her niece on Wednesday and said Iyana McGraw was scheduled to give birth to her baby girl on Friday.
Family members who were planning to come to Jacksonville for the birth of the child on Friday are now caring for a newborn in the hospital and talking to detectives.
Gloria McGraw said she believes the young mother protected her unborn baby in her belly.
"I'm just very, very sorry," Gloria McGraw said. "I can't imagine how she got in that situation or who did this to her, but I hope they find whoever it is. I mean this is just awful. Just God bless that the child is still alive."
Sgt. Doug Molina said Monday it was unclear how many shots were fired, but residents in the area reported the gunfire. The bullet holes could be seen in her apartment door, window and wall.
Rayne White lives close to where the shooting took place.
"It was like pow, pow, pow, pow and then there was a couple of seconds of hesitation," White said.
Iyana McGraw was found inside the apartment which her family said she shared with her boyfriend.
"She was so excited. She was filled with so much joy, something to live for," Gloria McGraw said.
The 19-year-old had more than a baby to live for. Her family said she planned to start college in January.
"She wanted to be a pediatrician, and she had the brains to do it," Gloria McGraw said.
The family said they are now looking for justice and answers.
Her mother was at the apartment on Tuesday in tears, too broken up to speak about her daughter. Her aunt says there is more to this story, but the family didn't want to share anything that would compromise the investigation.
JSO is now asking anyone who knew Iyana or saw what happened to come forward.
Anyone with information was asked to contact the Sheriff's Office by calling 904-630-0500 or emailing jsocrimetips@jaxsheriff.org. An anonymous tip can be made to Crime Stoppers by calling 1-866-845-TIPS.
"This girl has been taken away from her baby that she never got to meet," Gloria McGraw said. "Three more days, and she would have met her child."