Nationwide — Qualeisha Barnes, an African American rapper from Detroit, Michigan, who was pregnant, died in Atlanta, Georgia, after a shooting inside a car. Police say she was shot four times in the face, and investigators are now working to identify the suspect.
According to Fox 2 Detroit, the 36-year-old was 14 weeks pregnant when someone opened fire while she sat inside a parked car late at night. Investigators believe the shots were fired through the windshield before the vehicle left the scene.
A nearby resident reported hearing several gunshots, followed by a car speeding away from the area. Police arrived soon after and secured the scene as they began collecting evidence.
Atlanta police Lt. Christopher Butler said investigators are tracking Barnes’ movements leading up to the shooting. He added that officers are reviewing a known route and security footage to piece together what happened and who may have been involved.
Barnes, also known as “Siditty” in the Detroit and Atlanta hip-hop communities, grew up in southwest Detroit and had lived in Atlanta for around 10 years while building her music career.
Her family said she was two semesters away from completing a nursing degree. They also believe she may have been targeted because she was pregnant, and they continue to seek answers as the investigation continues.