An 18-year-old pregnant woman has been paralyzed following a shooting incident during an armed robbery while meeting an individual she had connected with on Snapchat.

Angel Jones, who was 26 weeks into her pregnancy, sustained life-altering injuries from the shooting, forcing her into premature labor. Medical professionals are striving to prolong her pregnancy while uncertainty looms over her ability to walk again.

Reports from law enforcement indicate that Angel and her 19-year-old partner visited Greenway Avenue in Toledo, Ohio, to meet an online acquaintance from Snapchat when a suspect dressed in black approached them and attempted to rob them at gunpoint.

The suspect reportedly brandished a firearm at the boyfriend, demanding money. A scuffle ensued, with the boyfriend recounting his efforts to deflect the weapon during the altercation. Unfortunately, the gun discharged, striking Angel.

Although the bullet narrowly missed her unborn child, it caused significant damage by shattering her arm, penetrating her chest, and inflicting a severe spinal injury, resulting in paralysis from the waist down. The gunshot also triggered premature labor at 26 weeks of pregnancy.

In a GoFundMe campaign initiated to support Angel’s recovery and future care, her mother, Brandy Jones, detailed the harrowing incident. She praised Angel’s boyfriend for his courageous actions during the robbery.

Describing the extent of Angel’s injuries, Brandy explained how the bullet shattered her daughter’s arm, pierced her chest, and lodged in her body, leading to a critical fracture in her 12th vertebra, severely affecting her spinal cord.

Brandy expressed the emotional toll on Angel, highlighting her fear of paralysis, now a stark reality as she faces the challenge of caring for her newborn while coping with her own condition.

Amid the trauma, Angel went into premature labor, and medical teams are diligently working to manage her contractions. Despite challenges due to her pregnancy, Angel’s GoFundMe aims to raise funds for essential modifications to her family’s property, adaptive parenting support, living expenses, medical needs, as well as a reward for information leading to the apprehension of the perpetrators.

The fundraising goal is set at $50,000 (£37,290) to significantly improve Angel and her family’s quality of life during this challenging period.