Pregnant woman dies, baby delivered after shooting in Minneapolis

A pregnant woman who was shot late Sunday night in Minneapolis died at the hospital, but her baby was delivered.

Around 9:15 p.m., police were called to the intersection of East 37th Street and Elliot Avenue on a report of a shooting.

When they arrived, officers found the pregnant woman, with an apparent gunshot wound, inside a car. She was brought to the Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) where her baby was delivered. The woman later died at the hospital.

She was later identified by family as Leneesha Columbus, 27.

"She’s gone and we can’t get her back," Columbus’ aunt, Anita Hester said. "He’s ruined our family. We will never be the same."

The baby was placed in NICU. Information on the baby’s condition has not yet been released.

Officer Garret Parten, with the Minneapolis Police Department, said the incident is being investigated as a homicide. No one has been taken into custody and the vehicle the pregnant woman was found inside is part of the investigation.

Parten also told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS a second person who was shot walked into HCMC around the same time. Parten said, for now, that incident is being investigated separately.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit information online and reference case number 20-177599. All tips can be made anonymously and may be eligible for a financial reward if information provided leads to an arrest, according to Minneapolis police.