CINCINNATI — UPDATE: Police have released the name of the newborn killed in one of Cincinnati's latest homicides.
They say Aaliyah Marie McCoy died Saturday, one day after her mother, Michelle McDonald.
The two mark the city's eighth and ninth domestic violence deaths in 2021, police say. In 2020, there were five. 2019 police say there were three. In 2018, police say there were also three domestic violence deaths.
Officers say Friday, they showed up to First Avenue at 6:40 p.m. and found McDonald, 31, with a gunshot wound. She was transported to University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where she died from her injuries.
Staff at UCMC worked to deliver McDonald's baby, but on Saturday, police say the baby died. McDonald's family said she was due to give birth in just one month.
"I'm really hurt," said Minnie Evans, McDonald's aunt. "I'm really more depressed because I had to watch my niece in there. And it's devastating to see a 2-day-old baby that you know is going to pass away. She didn't have a chance. She didn't have a chance at all."
Family says the baby was born five pounds, five ounces and would have been healthy if not for the shooting. They said she went 13 minutes without oxygen, and they decided to take her off life support after the baby's grandmother and uncle were able to hold her for the first and last time.
"We have to bury two people at the same time," said Dorthea Young, a cousin of McDonald. "Mother and child. Like, that's ridiculous. It's absurd to me."
Evans said McDonald's family fondly called her "Shelly" and said she was a loving daughter, sister, niece and mother to a 4-year-old girl named Rae Rae, who is now staying with grandparents.
Investigators have arrested and charged Antonio Wilcox, 31, with McDonald's murder. After the death of the baby, CPD officials said police plan to consult with the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office on additional charges.
"It's sickening to me," said Young. "To me, he never deserves to see the light of day...He tore my family apart with this one. That's all I can say. He left a baby without a mother."
The family said McDonald and Wilcox had been dating for around a year and that he was the father of the baby McDonald carried.
Court records show he has been accused of domestic violence and child endangerment before in 2009, but those charges are listed as dismissed. His criminal record dates back to 2004 when he was convicted of trafficking cocaine.
Anyone with additional information is asked to call CPD's Homicide Unit at (513) 352-3542.
