Police are calling the fatal shooting of a pregnant woman inside a vehicle in Toronto late Sunday night “very cowardly” as the city continues to come to grips with a spike in gun violence this year.
“Someone driving up to a location and being shot is outrageous, anywhere. Whether it was targeted, not targeted. Whatever the case may be, it’s outrageous,” said 23 Division Superintendent Ron Taverner during a press conference Monday morning.
Police say the expectant mother was shot while she was sitting in the back seat of a vehicle around 11:00 p.m. in the area of Garland Boulevard and Jamestown Crescent in the city’s west-end.
The 35-year-old woman, who police say was five months’ pregnant and identified as Candice Rochelle Bobb of Malton, was with three other occupants who then drove her to a nearby hospital.
“I can say that the vehicle that was shot was not moving,” said Det. Sgt. Mike Carbone.
“I will not comment on any other vehicle or any other suspect vehicle because at this point we are looking to seek and speak to witnesses who have some information with respect to this case.”
READ MORE: Deadly shootings in Toronto triple this year amid spike in gunfire
Police say attempts to revive the mother were unsuccessful and she was later pronounced dead.
The decision was then made to deliver the baby via an emergency C-section. The infant remains in hospital in stable condition.
Investigators say the vehicle was shot multiple times and that no one else was injured.
Police have yet to release any details on the suspect or suspects but are asking the public to come forward with any information.
“We are getting cooperation from the occupants of the vehicle and we expect and hope with our appeal and our canvas, we’ll speak to more witnesses,” said Carbone.
Toronto Mayor John Tory echoed the call for public assistance, condemning the deadly shooting as a “travesty” and saying no child should enter the world without a mother.
“Violence in any form in this city is unacceptable,” he said in a statement. “There are always affected families, people left without their loved ones, but when bystanders are killed, when pregnant mothers are shot while driving in cars, we must all take action to prevent these tragedies from going unanswered.”
The most recent shooting death is Toronto’s 29th homicide of the year.
With files from The Canadian Press