Charges brought against a woman who lost her unborn baby after being shot in the stomach have been dropped.
Marshae Jones, 28, was accused of manslaughter after allegedly starting an altercation with Ebony Jemison, 23, in the US city of Pleasant Grove in December 2018.
Jemison was initially charged with manslaughter after she allegedly opened fire.
But a Jefferson County grand jury dropped that charge and indicted Jones instead after authorities determined that she started the argument and Jemison opened fire in self-defence.
The grand jury concluded that Jones intentionally caused the death of her foetus by being the initiator.
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Police Lieutenant Danny Reid had said the foetus was "dependent on its mother to try to keep it from harm".
District attorney for the Bessemer division of Jefferson County, Lynneice Washington, said she was dismissing the case and that no further legal action would be taken.
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"This is truly a disturbing and heartbreaking case," she told reporters. "There are no winners, only losers in this sad ordeal."
Ms Washington added that grand jury members made "what they believed to be a reasonable decision", believing that someone should be held accountable for the death of the foetus.
Jones's lawyer, Mark White, welcomed the decision and said it would "help Marshae continue to heal from this tragic event and Read More – Source
Charges brought against a woman who lost her unborn baby after being shot in the stomach have been dropped.
Marshae Jones, 28, was accused of manslaughter after allegedly starting an altercation with Ebony Jemison, 23, in the US city of Pleasant Grove in December 2018.
Jemison was initially charged with manslaughter after she allegedly opened fire.
But a Jefferson County grand jury dropped that charge and indicted Jones instead after authorities determined that she started the argument and Jemison opened fire in self-defence.
The grand jury concluded that Jones intentionally caused the death of her foetus by being the initiator.
Advertisement
Police Lieutenant Danny Reid had said the foetus was "dependent on its mother to try to keep it from harm".
District attorney for the Bessemer division of Jefferson County, Lynneice Washington, said she was dismissing the case and that no further legal action would be taken.
More from US
"This is truly a disturbing and heartbreaking case," she told reporters. "There are no winners, only losers in this sad ordeal."
Ms Washington added that grand jury members made "what they believed to be a reasonable decision", believing that someone should be held accountable for the death of the foetus.
Jones's lawyer, Mark White, welcomed the decision and said it would "help Marshae continue to heal from this tragic event and Read More – Source
