15-Year-Old Arrested In Shooting Of Pregnant Teen
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A 15-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with last month's shooting in Duquesne that wounded a pregnant teenager and killed her unborn baby.
Allegheny County Police say they have now charged Eric Taylor, of Duquesne, as an adult in the May 26 shooting of 15-year-old DeRae Delgado and her unborn child.
Delgado was seven months pregnant when she opened the door of her Friendship Avenue home just after midnight and gunfire erupted. She was struck four times, including twice in the stomach.
Her unborn son died as a result of the gunfire. Delgado had already decided to name him Darren.
DeAnna Weems, the Delgado's mother, had mixed emotions when she learned that Taylor was arrested in the shooting at her doorstep.
"I know his mom, I know his grandma, I know his uncles, so I'm not happy that it was him at all," said Weems. "I was actually very shocked to find out it was him; but of course, I want justice for my daughter and my grandson. But like I said, it's not a happy occasion either."
Taylor, who knew the family through little league football games, is charged as an adult in the shooting.
"She's just like 'Why?' That's her only question is why," says Weems.
The criminal complaint says he told friends he was going to a girl's house to "bang," meaning shoot, according to a witness who talked to police. But beyond that, there's little explanation.
Meanwhile, as the criminal justice system moves along, Delgado lives with the emotional and physical pain of the attack.
"She has a hard time sleeping at night. She wakes up a lot crying, nightmares. She wakes up in pain. She goes to bed in pain," said Weems. "I have to keep her medicated so that she can get through the night and at least sleep a little bit. She sleeps through the day."
Taylor was already in the Allegheny County Jail on charges related to another shooting at the time of his arrest, police said.
He is now facing charges of homicide of an unborn child, attempted homicide, aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person in connection with the Duquesne shooting.
Taylor will be arraigned on those charges at the jail.
RELATED LINKS:
Pregnant Teen Loses Baby After Duquesne Shooting (5/26/14)
Zappala: Investigators Make Progress In Pregnant Teen's Shooting (5/28/14)
More Reports by Harold Hayes
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