Left: Devin Anthony (DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office). Right: Shakiya Pridgen (GoFundMe).
A Georgia man is accused of shooting nearly a dozen rounds through the bedroom window of his pregnant ex-girlfriend, hitting her while she slept beside her two small children.
Devin Lamar Anthony, 26, has been charged with malice murder, feticide, aggravated assault with a weapon and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in connection with the death of 23-year-old Shakiya Pridgen.
DeKalb County police said officers were called at about 5:15 a.m. on June 16 to the 3300 block of Peppertree Circle after a report of a shooting. When they arrived, they found Pridgen suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. She was taken to a hospital, where she and her unborn baby were pronounced dead.
According to a probable cause arrest affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, Anthony — identified as the father of the unborn child — allegedly approached the bedroom window where he knew Pridgen and the children were sleeping and fired 11 shots into the room.
Pridgen was about two weeks from her due date and had been sleeping in bed with her 1-year-old and 3-year-old children at the time of the shooting. The children were not injured.
Investigators said traffic cameras helped place Anthony’s vehicle at the scene. The affidavit also states that the former couple had recently split following accusations of infidelity and a disagreement over the baby’s name, which Anthony allegedly “did not agree with.”
Pridgen’s family told reporters she had celebrated her baby shower just days before she was killed. Her son was to be named Kyren.
“I want the world to know that somebody took a blessing, a blessing, from all of us, and we will get justice,” her mother Verdina Scott said. “This will not be the last time you hear from us, we will get justice for you, Shakiya and Kyren.”
Local NBC affiliate WXIA reported that Anthony previously pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in a separate homicide case in nearby Fulton County. He was able to wipe the conviction off his record after he completed probation as part of the Peach State’s First Offender Act.
Pridgen’s father, Wakiel Pridgeon, said he thinks officials were too lenient on Anthony.
“If you wanted to kill your own child, you’ll kill anybody,” he said. “You don’t have a heart. You’re just a menace to society.”
The incident occurred just days before Father’s Day, leaving him reeling.
“I’m not supposed to be burying my daughter. My daughter’s gonna be burying me,” her father said.
A GoFundMe is raising money for the victim’s two surviving children.
“No family should ever have to experience a loss like this, and we are coming together to help ease the burden and support the family as they navigate the days ahead,” the description says.
Anthony remains in the DeKalb County Jail without bond.
