The newborn girl who survived an emergency cesarean section after her teenage mother was allegedly gunned down in San Diego has died, police confirmed Sunday, marking a devastating coda to a case that has drawn national attention to domestic violence.
Jariah Edwards, 17, was shot and killed on May 30 while staying at an Airbnb with her family in the Bay Park neighborhood. Her infant daughter spent approximately a week fighting for life in Rady Children's Hospital's neonatal intensive care unit before being removed from life support.
Background
Edwards and her family had traveled from Arizona to San Diego for what was supposed to be a peaceful vacation, according to investigators with the San Diego Police Department. The teenager was approximately 32 weeks pregnant at the time of the shooting.
Prosecutors allege that Trevon Williams, 19, Edwards' ex-boyfriend, had traveled more than eight hours by Lyft from Arizona to San Diego specifically to locate her. Once there, authorities say he learned where she was staying and used a deceptive method to draw her outside: placing DoorDash delivery orders to lure her out of the rental home.
"The San Diego Police Department extends its sincere appreciation to the neonatal intensive care unit staff at Rady Children's Hospital for the care they provided and their extraordinary efforts to save her life," the agency said in a statement.
The Investigation
Police received multiple 9-1-1 calls reporting a shooting in the 4900 block of Gardena Avenue around 1:10 a.m. on May 30. Officers arrived within minutes and found Edwards suffering from a gunshot wound to the head outside the vacation rental.
Doctors at a nearby hospital performed an emergency cesarean section in an attempt to save the baby, investigators said. Edwards died during the surgery.
The newborn girl was in critical condition with a severe hypoxic brain injury resulting from oxygen loss, according to prosecutors. She had minimal brain activity before being removed from life support Sunday.
"Jariah's family is facing unimaginable grief and hardship," according to a GoFundMe fundraiser created for the family, which had raised nearly $12,000 toward a $20,000 goal as of Monday to help cover medical bills.
Williams fled into nearby Tecolote Canyon after the shooting, authorities said. Police located him around 3 a.m. following an area search and took him into custody without incident. He was found with a semi-automatic handgun.
The Charges
Williams has been formally charged with murder, attempted murder of a fetus, and possession of a machine gun with an extended magazine, according to the San Diego County District Attorney's Office. He pleaded not guilty during his court appearance, which was held without incident despite his tattoos and braided hair.
Prosecutors allege Williams and Edwards began dating in September 2025, but her family had grown concerned about the relationship. Court documents indicate the couple had an on-and-off dynamic marked by domestic violence and threats, with Edwards having blocked Williams on her phone and seeking a restraining order against him at the time of her death.
Williams is being held without bail in San Diego County Jail. He could face an additional murder charge now that the infant has died.
If convicted on current charges, he could be sentenced to death or life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Key Takeaways
- Jariah Edwards, 17, was allegedly shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend Trevon Williams, 19, outside an Airbnb rental while on a family vacation from Arizona
- Prosecutors allege Williams traveled eight hours from Arizona to San Diego and used DoorDash deliveries to lure the victim outside
- Doctors performed an emergency C-section; Edwards died, but her daughter survived briefly before dying Sunday
- The infant suffered severe hypoxic brain injury after oxygen loss during the shooting
- Williams is charged with murder, attempted murder of a fetus, and machine gun possession; he pleaded not guilty
- Authorities say this was a domestic violence incident; victim had been seeking a restraining order
What's Next
Williams is expected to remain in custody as his case proceeds through San Diego County Superior Court. Prosecutors have indicated they will likely add a murder charge for the infant's death. A motive for the killing remains under investigation, according to police.
"Everywhere she went she was always spreading her light," wrote mourners on social media tributes honoring Edwards. "Life will never be the same without you."