It was supposed to be a joyful night. Shanice Young had just celebrated her baby shower—surrounded by loved ones, laughter, and hopes for the future. But just hours later, her life was brutally cut short. As she unpacked gifts from the car, still glowing from the celebration, her ex-boyfriend showed up, and everything changed in an instant.
A Moment of Joy Turns Into a Nightmare
Shanice, 31, was eight months pregnant and excited about the new chapter ahead. She was coming home to her Harlem apartment late Sunday night after the baby shower, arms full of presents, her two young daughters nearby. But as she arrived, her ex-boyfriend, 40-year-old Justin Soriano, confronted her outside the building.
The two argued. Witnesses say Shanice tried to de-escalate the situation and protect her kids. But before anyone could stop him, Soriano pulled out a gun and shot her in the head. She collapsed in front of her children, who were still sitting in the car, watching the entire nightmare unfold.
Her Children Were Right There
There’s no easy way to say it—her daughters saw their mother murdered. Family members said Shanice did everything she could to shield them from harm, even as her own life was in danger.
Paramedics rushed Shanice to the hospital, but it was too late. She and her unborn baby didn’t make it. She was just weeks away from giving birth.
An Arrest After Days on the Run
The city reeled. A manhunt stretched across four days as police searched for Soriano. On Thursday, they finally tracked him down in the Bronx and took him into custody. He now faces murder and weapons charges.
Soriano had a criminal past, including drug-related convictions, and had been out of prison since 2018. Now, he’s accused of killing the woman he once claimed to love—and taking two innocent lives in the process.
“She Was So Happy That Day”
Shanice’s father, Thurman Young, could barely hold back tears when he spoke to reporters. “She was so happy that day. She had just celebrated the baby. Then he took her away. He took everything,” he said.
Neighbors and loved ones described Shanice as a kind, warm-hearted person who lived for her daughters. She had dreams, plans, and was getting ready to welcome a third child into the world. Her family is devastated—not just by the loss, but by the way it happened.
A Pattern That Keeps Happening
This isn’t the first time something like this has happened—and it’s not just a tragic coincidence. Just weeks after Shanice’s murder, another pregnant woman in Philadelphia was shot 11 times while unloading baby shower gifts. In Georgia, a pregnant mom named Raesha Heard was gunned down in her parents’ driveway in front of her 9-year-old son. In Orlando, a mom of three was killed while sleeping beside her children.
These stories are heartbreaking, and they’re becoming too common. Experts say homicide is one of the leading causes of death among pregnant women in the U.S.—a fact that doesn’t get nearly enough attention.
We Can’t Look Away
Shanice’s story isn’t just a crime headline. It’s about a woman who should be alive today, holding her baby and watching her kids grow up. It’s about the pain of the people left behind, the trauma her daughters now carry, and the silence that often surrounds domestic violence.
Advocates are calling for more resources, support systems, and awareness to help women like Shanice before it’s too late. No one should fear for their life while bringing a new one into the world.
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