Man accused of fatally shooting pregnant fiancée hours after breakup
01/10/2023 1:26 pm PST
LAKEVILLE, Minn. (TCD) -- A 32-year-old man was arrested after a pregnant woman was shot and killed as she sat in her car.
On Sunday, Jan. 8, at approximately 6:51 p.m., Lakeville Police Department officers and paramedics responded to a shooting call at the Amazon Fulfillment Center Warehouse parking lot and found the victim inside a vehicle. Paramedics provided lifesaving measures and transported her to the Hennepin County Medical Center, where she later died.
According to Lakeville Police, a "male acquaintance of the victim" was reportedly involved in the shooting, and he was cooperating with investigators.
Lakeville Police said the victim was pregnant and doctors at the Hennepin County Medical Center were able to successfully deliver the baby. WCCO-TV reports the boy, Messiah, is in critical condition. The mother has been identified as Kyla O’Neal.
Police identified the "male acquaintance" as Donte McCray and arrested him on a manslaughter charge. He’s being held at the Dakota County Jail on $2 million bail.
The probable cause statement, which charges him with one count of second-degree murder with intent, says O’Neal suffered a single gunshot wound to the neck, and her manner of death was ruled a homicide. Doctors delivered her son via emergency cesarean section.
Police identified McCray as O’Neal’s "significant other" and the father of her newborn son. Facebook profiles show McCray and O’Neal were engaged.
According to the probable cause statement, O’Neal and McCray got into an argument earlier that day because O’Neal learned McCray had a child with another woman during O’Neal’s pregnancy. McCray reportedly went to his mother’s house, and O’Neal picked him up for work. McCray allegedly had guns in his bags and "was worried about making sure they were safe for his kids so he wanted to 'clear' the guns of any live rounds of ammunition."
McCray reportedly began clearing the gun in front of the Amazon warehouse, but O’Neal allegedly told him not to. She reportedly drove him to a different spot.
The statement says, "The defendant said he hung on to the car when the Victim moved it and as she got parked, he tried to clear a round in the chamber and the gun accidentally discharged, hitting the Victim in the neck."
According to the probable cause statement, O’Neal’s mother told police she went to O’Neal and McCray’s home because "one of the Victim’s kids said Defendant was getting aggressive with the Victim."
O’Neal reportedly broke up with McCray and told him he "had to go." She reportedly said her newborn would not have McCray’s name, either. McCray and O’Neal allegedly got into an altercation, and O’Neal broke his phone.
McCray allegedly told O’Neal and her mother, "You all ain’t bulletproof. I’m going to f--k you all up. You ain’t bulletproof."
Surveillance footage reportedly shows O’Neal moving her car into the space away from the building. At one point, she reportedly backed her car up, which pushed McCray.
The statement says McCray was "angry that the door hit him and he raised the gun, pointed it at the Victim and pulled the trigger."
He allegedly said he did not think there was a round left in the chamber.
O’Neal’s mother, Katina O’Neal, told WCCO about her newborn grandson, "I need him to pull through this. I want him to. I can’t lose both of them, not right now, no."
A GoFundMe started by O’Neal’s sister says she leaves behind three other children, ages 10, 7, and 2.
MORE:
- Lakeville Police Department Investigating Victim with Gunshot Wound - Lakeville Police Department
- Update: Lakeville Police Department Investigating Victim with Gunshot Wound - Lakeville Police Department
- Statement of Probable Cause - Dakota County
- Charges: Man shot pregnant ex-fiancé hours after the two broke up - WCCO
- "I can't lose both of them": Newborn clinging to life after mother Kyla O'Neal fatally shot outside Lakeville Amazon facility - WCCO
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