Family seeks justice after pregnant woman fatally shot; baby survives and is named 'Miracle'

FOX 32 / SUN-TIMES - The family of a pregnant woman shot and killed Sunday is calling for help in identifying and bringing to justice the person who murdered her.

On Monday night, the family of Parasha Beard were joined by other relatives and supporters to share together their sorrow over the murder of the 19-year-old. They brought red balloons, which were added to a growing memorial. They also signed a poster in memory of the young woman that some called 'Queen Shay.'

“The only thing I'm asking for is just justice and peace right now. That's all I want,” said Crystal Jones, Parasha’s mother.

Beard was sitting in a car with a male friend Sunday when someone came up and shot them both. Beard was hit in the neck and died from her injuries at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, but doctors were able to save her baby, now named "Miracle" who was not due until December

“Miracle, she's a miracle baby, she's doing good, she's breathing on her own,” said Sylvia Jones-King, Parasha’s Grandmother.

On Monday, the bullet riddled white car with a shot out window remained parked in front of the family's house. It's a stark reminder of the violence from the day before.

The family says the gunman was someone down the street who got into an argument with Parasha and her friend, and someone they claim was locked up on a gun charge last week but got out a day later.

They are hoping someone who knows something will come forward and provide police with the information they need to make an arrest. A reward is being put together.

“At this moment right now we are working, expeditiously around the clock to find out, our organization is on the streets so we deal with a lot of people that are out here, that have the knowabouts and whereabout of what's going on and this is now over, we are going to come to justice on this,” said Pete Keller, a friend of the family.

Parasha’s grandmother said on Wednesday that doctors plan to do a scan of baby Miracle’s brain to see if there is any damage. She weighed just two pounds when she was born.