On a spring morning in Indianapolis, the life of 18-year-old Brittany McNew was tragically cut short. It was May 4, 2017, and the pregnant young woman was with her boyfriend on the city's west side, reportedly to purchase a television. The ordinary errand took a horrifying turn when gunfire erupted on West Michigan Street near Alton Avenue. McNew was struck by a bullet and rushed to the hospital in critical condition, but her injuries proved to be fatal.
At the time of her death,
Brittany McNew, a female, was eagerly anticipating motherhood, with her baby due in early December. The sudden and violent loss left her family and her boyfriend reeling with grief. In the immediate aftermath, her boyfriend recounted the terrifying moments, explaining that the shooting began as they were about to leave a residence. He described how he tried to shield her from the bullets and his desperate chase after the shooter's vehicle as it sped away.
Less than a month after the shooting, on May 31, 2017, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department announced an arrest in connection with McNew's death. Authorities took 27-year-old Jonathan McGee into custody, charging him with her murder. The arrest brought a glimmer of hope for justice to a family devastated by the loss of a young woman and her unborn child.
In the wake of her daughter's death, Brittany's mother, Jennifer Lee, channeled her grief into advocacy. She championed a change in Indiana law to recognize an unborn child as a separate victim in a homicide case. Her efforts were successful, leading to the passage of a new law that allows for murder charges to be filed for the death of a fetus. This legislative change stands as a lasting legacy in memory of Brittany and her baby.
