Pregnant teen's brother shot and killed while trying to protect her from boyfriend

A 20-year-old Wisconsin man has died after family members say he was shot attempting to protect his 17-year-old pregnant sister from her violent boyfriend. The teen mother and her child survived and are hospitalized.

Key Takeaways:

• A Wisconsin teen shot his pregnant girlfriend, wounding her, and then killed the girlfriend's 20-year-old brother.

• The girl's preborn child was delivered prematurely following the shooting, and is currently in the hospital.

• Homicide and domestic violence incidents remain a significant threat to pregnant women.

The Details:

The incident occurred on October 1 in Barron, Wisconsin, when 17-year-old Marcus Hinojosa opened fire on his 17-year-old girlfriend, Makayla Sadowski.

According to reports, Makayla's 20-year-old brother, Tyler Sadowski, heard the shots and ran to check on his sister; Hinojosa then fatally shot him. Makayla, who was seven months pregnant, was wounded and is reportedly "fighting to survive."

According to ABC 7 Chicago, Makayla's baby was delivered prematurely due to her injuries. The child weighed two pounds, five ounces and is 15 inches long, but is expected to survive. Makayla is also mother to a two-year-old daughter, who was outside with her grandmother at the time of the shooting.

According to a statement from the Barron County Sherriff's Department, Hinojosa then died from a self-inflicted gunshot. The incident was captured on Snapchat, and the Sheriff's Department is working to have the footage removed from the website.

A GoFundMe for the family was created by Isela Sadowski, who says she is a cousin to Tyler and Makayla. She hailed Tyler as a hero for protecting his sister.

"In a heroic act of love, Tyler stepped in to protect his sister. In doing so, he lost his life," Sadowski wrote. Tyler was only 20 years old, a young man full of kindness, laughter, and light. He was the sweetest son, brother, and uncle, always ready to lend a hand, always putting family first. Losing him has left a hole in our hearts that can never be filled."

The Bottom Line:

Currently, homicide is the leading cause of death among pregnant women in the United States, and most of these homicides are linked to domestic violence situations.

Authorities have not yet offered any motive for the shooting in this case.