'Absolutely egregious': Man kills pregnant woman in front of their son

A 20-year-old pregnant woman was shot and killed in Mobile, Alabama, last week — in front of her 10-month-old son — while living in transitional housing.

Key Takeaways:

• David Smith allegedly broke into a transitional home and murdered Amiayia White and her preborn child.

• Smith and White's 10-month-old son was unharmed in the incident.

• Smith faces four capital murder charges, including one related to the death of the preborn baby. Prosecutors are pursuing the death penalty.

The Details:

David Smith, 21, is facing four capital murder charges after breaking into a transitional housing facility on October 21 and fatally shooting the mother of his child, Amiayia White, in front of their 10-month-old son.

White had been living at Wilmer Hall, which an attorney for the residence described as "essentially, a home for individuals or families due to poverty, abuse, neglect or homelessness."

Authorities say Smith gained entry into the home and murdered White. "He forcibly entered into the facility that was secured with burglar alarms and locks. It's unknown how he was able to gain access to the building, but he did indeed gain access to the building, and then he fled on foot," Officer Roderick Miles said.

White had previously filed for child support, requesting that Smith reimburse her for their son's medical bills. However, authorities are still determining a motive for the crime.

"We don't know why the subject went to search for the victim, and we don't know if an argument ensued inside the facility, or if he was already previously looking for her and he found her location. All of that is still under investigation," said Miles.

Thankfully, the couple's young son is reportedly unharmed. “Her child is safe and unharmed and is now in the care of [the state] Department of Human Resources, and the shooter is now in police custody. Please pray for her and especially for her child, who has lost his mother," said Rev. Pratt Paterson, a deacon and executive director of Wilmer Hall.

Zoom Out:

Pregnant women in the United States are more likely to die by homicide than by the three leading obstetric causes of maternal death (high blood pressure disorders, hemorrhage, or sepsis). Alabama law allows capital murder charges under certain circumstances. According to WKRG, Smith's charges include:

• Capital murder (burglary)

• Capital murder (committing the murder in front of a child less than 14)

• Capital murder (of two or more persons)

• Capital murder (the victim was a witness in a judicial proceeding)

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty due to the elevated charges.

“This is an absolutely egregious murder,” Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood said. “It was a domestic violence murder. And the way it happened was absolutely horrible. It was in front of a child. Amiayia White was pregnant, and, you know, due to all of those circumstances, this is, you know, we feel one of the worst of the worst.”