INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - Jennifer Lee, Southport, never imagined she would find herself in the balcony of the House of Representatives fighting back tears.
She also never imagined the events that had led to it.
Lee’s daughter Brittany, 18, was shot and killed on May 4, 2017. She and her boyfriend were checking out a tv for sale when a gunman opened fire on the back of a house, striking Brittany in the hip.
Brittany was pregnant at the time, due in December but both mom and the fetus she had nicknamed Peanut were killed.
"He only got aggravated battery for my grandbaby,” Lee said. “Aggravated battery is not fair for murder. He clearly murdered my daughter and my grandbaby. This won't go for my daughter and it won't go for my grandbaby but it will go for the next baby that is killed to a senseless act, and that is when I will get justice for my grandbaby."
From now on in Indiana, anyone who murders an expectant mother and her unborn baby will face more than aggravated battery charges in the death of the baby. The charge will be murder. That is why Jennifer Lee was crying in the balcony. She got justice for Peanut.
Justice for Brittany is next. That case is set for trial May 14th.
Lee said she wanted to thank Rep. Mike Speedy Sen. Aaron Freeman, both Republicans from Indianapolis, for carrying her bill.
Lee is now working to start a home for young pregnant moms called Hope for Peanut. A fundraiser to help get the home started is planned for April 28th in the Atrium downtown.