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Pregnant Woman Is Shot In Stomach: Baby Survives
posted (January 12, 2016)
A pregnant woman and her mother were shot last night at their home on Dolphin Street. At around nine, 18 year old Shenelle Roland was inside her home with her mom when 4 men came up to the house. One of the men opened fire hitting Roland and her mother. Today we found out just how lucky Rolland and her baby are to be alive.

Courtney Weatherburne reporting
Shenelle Rolland is 6 months pregnant. She is expecting in April. She doesn't know what she is having and she wants it to be a surprise. Still, she has a few articles of clothes picked out for when the baby arrives.

That dream was almost snatched from her last night when a bullet grazed her belly. She was making supper for her older brother when she heard the gunshots outside.

Her brother and his friends were hanging out on these steps when the 2 gunmen came from the back of the house and opened fire. They quickly ran inside.

Shenelle and her mother 42 year old Stephanie Smith then ran to the front door to shut it but that's when they faced one of the gunmen who was standing here - the gunman shot Shenelle and her mother before they could close the door.

Voice of: Shenelle Rolland, "I'm pregnant and I was shot"
"I tried lock the door from not allowing them to come in the house, because we have a little baby who we are taking care of and my younger brother in the house. When I tried to lock the door, the door didn't want to lock and I ran on top of my mother's bed and that was when I feel the pain strike me. So I came down and I told my mom that I got shot. My mother didn't know that she had gotten shot at that time, because she was worrying about me and the baby. So then I was telling her not to worry about me, I am feeling the pain but I am alright."

And Shenelle is lucky that she is alright and her unborn child is safe.

Voice of: Shenelle Rolland, "I'm pregnant and I was shot"
"They told me that my baby is okay and everything. They tell me that I have to go to the hospital every day for dressing. They say they cannot stitch it because it bursts through and through and they don't want the inside to get infected. They told me just make sure that I take the medication so that the nothing happens to the baby."

But her mom is still in the hospital undergoing surgery.

Sebastian Nunez, Stepfather
"At this present moment, I left from there this morning about 6:45am and she was in a recovery room. The doctor told me that they had already taken out the bullet. But when I left and reached home, we got a phone call that they took her back to the theater. The doctor told me the bullet came out. I can't say the bullet lodge, because the doctor said the bullet came out. So, it left me worrying why she is in the theater again. They say nobody can't go in to see her until 4pm this evening."

That same uncertainty is plaguing the family after last night's shooting

Voice of: Shenelle Rolland, "I'm pregnant and I was shot"
"Why us of all persons? We don't gang bang and we don't sell drugs or anything. I just want to know why us. I don't know my brother as gang bang. My bother lives by West and George Streets. I know "Shiney" and the others as our cousins. But I don't know if it's because of that they came after us. The Tush that got killed in Hattieville was my uncle and he was from ghost town. So I don't know if it's because of him, they came to retaliate back."

Sebastian Nunez, Stepfather
"I feel it, because it's my girlfriend and my stepdaughter. But I don't think we need this. With me, I don't have any threat to send. I don't have any bad talk to anyone. All I want to tell them, that we all have mothers and sisters. We want to live. In 2016 we don't need to be killing each other."

Roland told us it was 4 men - 2 came from behind the house while 2 others came around the front of the house. Police sent out a release saying that 22 year old Tyrone Meighan along with 3 minors have been detained and that they are still looking for 2 more persons. As you heard, this shooting might be related to Cleon "Tush" Smith's murder yesterday in Hattieville. Smith was Roland's uncle - and Ladyville police told us that Tush - who is from Ghost Town originally - may have been caught between two factions in the Ghost Town gang.

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