Pregnant teen killed after reportedly refusing to abort her child

An 18-year-old man is behind bars in Arizona after authorities say he shot three women, killing a pregnant teen and injuring two others, including another pregnant teen who delivered her child early at 25 weeks as a result.

Key Takeaways:

• 18-year-old Michael Sanchez has been arrested for killing 16-year-old Rylee Montgomery, and injuring a 17-year-old pregnant girl and 22-year-old woman.

• Montgomery was reportedly 14 weeks pregnant at the time of her death.

• According to family, Sanchez had threatened Montgomery and wanted her to abort her baby, which she refused to do.

• Homicide is a leading cause of death for pregnant women.

The Details:

According to the Buckeye AZ Police Department, the shooting occurred on May 14.

"Two of the victims, a 17-year-old pregnant girl and a 22-year-old woman, were rushed to the hospital where they remain in critical condition," police wrote. "A third victim, identified as 16-year-old Rylee Montgomery, who was also pregnant, died on scene."

The suspect in the shooting is 18-year-old Michael Sanchez, who was reportedly in an "on again off again" romantic relationship with Montgomery and was the father of her preborn baby.

A GoFundMe established to pay for funeral expenses alleges that Sanchez was abusive towards Montgomery.

"Once he got her pregnant in February, it was all over," Amy Montgomery, the victim's stepmother wrote. "After telling her to 'kill the baby,' and when she refused, he turned his anger on her, threatening her numerous times. He even went so far as to choke her at our house. When she broke up with him in March, he decided to point a gun at her face and told her she wasn't allowed."

Amy Montgomery told AZ Family that Rylee was 14 weeks pregnant.

“She did not know it was a baby girl. We’re going to have a gender reveal on the 7th of June to tell her,” said Amy.

According to the GoFundMe, the 17-year-old pregnant teen who was also shot was forced to deliver her child early.

"[She] was shot in the back and nearly bled out, forced to deliver her baby boy at 25 weeks. They are all 3 in ICU," the fundraiser page states.

Why It Matters:

Tragically, homicide is one of the leading causes of death for pregnant women. Many of these incidents are domestic violence situations, especially when a woman refuses to abort the preborn child she is carrying.

The Bottom Line:

Decades of acceptance for abortion has led to abusive men believing they have the right to coerce or force abortions upon women for children they don't want.

This societal acceptance increases the risk for women when they push back against this abuse and stand up for the life of their preborn child. Both the mother and her child need to be protected against abusive men.