Unborn Baby Dies After Man Shoots Pregnant Wife: Des Plaines PD

DES PLAINES, IL — A Des Plaines man is accused of shooting his pregnant wife and killing an unborn child in the process. Amal Reji, 30, of the 1200 block of S. Leslie Lane, is being charged with felony counts of intentional homicide of an unborn child and attempted murder following the Monday incident.

Reji is currently awaiting a bond hearing over the charges.

The woman remains in intensive care at a local hospital. Officials said she had been 14 weeks pregnant.

As part of an investigation by Des Plaines police, with help from the Major Case Assistance Team, officials said officers were called to the parking lot of St. Zachary Church, 567 W. Algonquin Road, at 7:30 p.m. Monday, where they met with Reji. According to police, he told officers he and his wife had been having a verbal argument over finances at their home in the 1200 block of S. Leslie Lane before continuing the argument in their car.

Reji told police he had shot his wife and that there was a gun inside his car, according to officials.

Police saw a silver Honda Odyssey with a broken rear window parked in the lot. Upon approaching the car, they found a 30-year-old woman in the rear cargo area. She had reportedly sustained several gunshot wounds, according to police.

Officers assisted the woman before Des Plaines firefighters arrived and took her to the hospital for "definitive" medical care.

Police said a loaded Glock 9mm handgun was found in the car. Reji was taken into custody and brought to the Des Plaines Police Department.

A further investigation revealed that the couple had been arguing at their home prior to arriving at the church, according to officials. They reportedly left the home in order to not argue in front of other family members. The argument continued in the car as Reji drove eastbound on Algonquin Road with his wife sitting in the backseat, police said.

Prior to approaching the intersection of Mount Prospect Road, police said Reji brandished the handgun and shot his wife several times. He then drove the car to the church parking lot and flagged down someone to call 911.