A premature baby delivered after his mother was tragically shot has died, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. The baby, named Jesus Castrejon, passed away on Thursday evening around 7 p.m.
The incident happened on January 16 in Chicago when Edith Castrejon, 35, was shot in the chest while lying in bed with her boyfriend. The shooting occurred in the 5800 block of West Newport Avenue around 4:50 a.m., according to the police.
Edith was rushed to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where doctors worked quickly to save her baby. Jesus was delivered at 5:48 a.m., but Edith sadly died shortly after at 6:24 a.m. The baby was in critical condition, and a police report indicated that his chance of survival was only 25%. Despite efforts to save him, Jesus died just over a week later.
The Cook County medical examiner’s office confirmed that Edith died from a gunshot wound to her chest, and her death was ruled a homicide. An autopsy for baby Jesus had not yet been conducted as of Friday afternoon.
Edith’s boyfriend, Robert Pasco, 42, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and for not having a valid firearm owner’s identification card.
According to the police report, Pasco claimed the gun accidentally went off while it was under a pillow. He told officers that Edith might have been trying to move the gun when it discharged, hitting her in the chest.
Family and friends of Edith Castrejon have started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for her funeral and related expenses. The fundraiser described her as a loving sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. By Friday morning, it had raised over $5,600 toward a $10,000 goal.
This tragic incident has left loved ones mourning the loss of both Edith and her baby, Jesus.
