A Florida man has been arrested after shooting his pregnant girlfriend in the stomach while she was sleeping, according to law authorities.
Eric Patterson, 44, is charged with one count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon on a pregnant female, tampering with physical evidence, being a felon in possession of a firearm, shooting at or into a building, possession of a firearm while committing a felony, and two counts of child neglect, according to authorities.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the event took place in the early morning hours of November 22.
Minutes before 5:20 a.m., sheriff’s deputies received word that a pregnant woman with a gunshot wound to her belly had been dropped off at the emergency room of a regional hospital in Brandon, a big community about 15 miles east of Tampa.
A male fled the scene immediately after the woman was dropped off at the emergency room, according to hospital workers. Patterson was labeled as a “15-time convicted felon” in a sheriff’s office press statement.
“Detectives learned that the victim, who was eight months pregnant, was sleeping in bed with two of her children when Patterson shot her in the abdomen,” according to a sheriff’s report. “The bullet also struck her unborn baby.”
Details of what happened before the tragedy are scant.
Prosecutors claim that the defendant “knowingly grabbed a small caliber handgun while the victim was lying in bed inside of the master bedroom” of her apartment and “discharged the firearm, at which time the projectile entered the victim’s abdominal area,”
That move describes the scene of the crime.
On top of the bed was a sheet with a red stain consistent with blood, with a hole surrounded by what appeared to be a burn residue.
The apparent burn mark was consistent with a firearm being discharged in close proximity to the sheet.
“The victim was approximately eight months pregnant at the time she was struck by the projectile, which passed through her abdomen and into the abdomen of the unborn child,” according to investigators.
Finally, the victim had to endure emergency surgery and an induced birth. According to police officials, the baby was transported to Tampa General Hospital for surgery after being delivered quickly.
Investigators did, however, describe how the defendant was identified as the shooter in their pretrial detention request.
“The victim and defendant exiting the residence was captured on surveillance video directly across the hallway from [the apartment where the shooting occurred] which captured the victim holding her stomach area while walking out of the apartment,” and the movement continues. “The victim and suspect arriving at the hospital was also captured on surveillance video at the hospital.”
According to police, surveillance footage shows Patterson driving off in the victim’s own vehicle.
During the newborn girl’s subsequent surgery, surgeons retrieved a “small caliber projectile” from her belly, according to the petition.
The probe is claimed to be ongoing.
“What could have ended as a heartbreaking tragedy is now a miracle story of survival and resilience,” Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said. “Our investigators worked diligently to find the suspect, and I am grateful that he is now in custody. It’s very amazing that both the mother and her newborn baby survived. Their resilience in the face of terrible tragedy is a poignant reminder of why we are still committed to protecting every family in our community.”
