A mother of five has been killed in a drive-by shooting after a bullet ricocheted off her one-year-old baby’s crib and killed her.
Victoria DeLeon, 22, was struck twice inside her Fort Worth, Texas home at around 3am on Saturday, and rushed to protect her youngest child before succumbing to her injuries, her family said.
‘She got hit by two bullets,’ her mother Josie DeLeon told the Star -Telegram.
‘One went through the air conditioning unit and hit her in the chest and the other ricocheted off the baby’s crib and hit her in the side.’
Victoria DeLeon is seen with her five children and her boyfriend, along with two unknown family members (far right and second from left). She was fatally shot in her Fort Worth home
Victoria DeLeon (right) is seen with her mother, who said that after the shooting her daughter’s her only though was of protecting her youngest child
The victim’s mother said that even though Victoria DeLeon was grievously wounded, her only though was of protecting her youngest child.
‘Once she got shot, she rose up and grabbed the baby,’ Josie DeLeon said. ‘She held the [1-year-old] baby until they came for her.’
Victoria DeLeon was transported to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead shortly after 3.15am.
She died of gunshot wounds to her chest and abdomen, the Tarrant County Medical Examiner said.
Friends and family held a candlelight vigil on Sunday night at Holy Name Catholic Church.
Friends and family held a candlelight vigil on Sunday night at Holy Name Catholic Church
Family members and neighbors said that even though the house had been shot at in a separate incident a few weeks ago, they didn’t think Victoria DeLeon or her family were the intended target.
‘I don’t think this was intended for her,’ Josie DeLeon said of the Saturday shooting.
‘I think there had been some stuff going on in the neighborhood and that she was the one who got hit,’ she said.
Police said they do not know why the shooting occurred at the house.
There are currently no suspects in custody.
Family members and neighbors said the house had also been shot at a few weeks ago