SAN DIEGO, CA — A 21-year-old Arizona man has been charged with murder after allegedly shooting his pregnant teenage girlfriend in the head outside a San Diego vacation rental, killing her just weeks before her due date.
Trevon Williams faces murder charges in the death of Jariah Edwards, 17, who was eight months pregnant when she was shot early Saturday morning. The case has drawn attention for its calculated nature, with investigators saying Williams traveled separately to San Diego and used flowers to lure Edwards outside before opening fire. Edwards’ newborn daughter survived an emergency cesarean section but remains in critical condition at a local hospital.
The shooting occurred around 1:10 a.m. Saturday in the 4900 block of Gardena Avenue, where Edwards was staying with family members during a vacation from Arizona. According to the San Diego Police Department, Williams arrived unannounced at the short-term rental and asked Edwards to come outside, presenting her with flowers. “The victim’s 21-year-old boyfriend, also from Arizona, had traveled to San Diego separately and met up with the victim outside the rental, where he shot her,” police officials said in a press release. Multiple 911 calls reported the shooting, and officers arrived within minutes to find Edwards unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the head. Williams fled on foot to a nearby canyon immediately after the shooting.
Police located Williams approximately two hours later, around 3:00 a.m., hiding near 4900 September Street, about 1.5 miles from the shooting scene. Officers arrested him without incident and recovered a semiautomatic handgun at the time of his arrest, according to the San Diego Police Department. Edwards was rushed to a local hospital where medical staff performed an emergency cesarean section in an attempt to save both mother and child. Despite lifesaving efforts, Edwards died from her injuries. Her family told Arizona NBC affiliate KPNX that she never had the chance to hold or name her newborn daughter. “She was so excited,” Edwards’ aunt said, requesting anonymity. “She was genuinely like one of the sweetest people. She just recently started growing into herself and becoming, you know, who she was supposed to be.”
Edwards was due to give birth in just a few weeks, and family members described her as eager to become a mother. The teenager had been looking forward to welcoming her first child, a baby girl, according to relatives who spoke with local media outlets. A GoFundMe fundraiser established by the family describes Edwards as “a bright, loving young woman who was just 17 years old and preparing to welcome her first child, a baby girl. She was surrounded by family and friends who cherished her deeply.” The fundraising campaign, which aims to cover Edwards’ funeral expenses and her baby’s medical costs, had raised over $4,500 toward an $8,000 goal as of Monday afternoon. “Tragically, while on a family trip, Jariah was tracked down by her ex-boyfriend and lost her life to senseless violence,” the fundraiser states.
Williams was booked into the San Diego County jail on suspicion of murder and is expected to appear in court this week. Authorities have not disclosed a potential motive for the shooting, and the investigation remains ongoing. The case involves multiple jurisdictions since both the victim and suspect were Arizona residents who traveled to California. San Diego police are working with Arizona authorities as part of the investigation. Legal experts note that Williams could face additional charges related to the harm caused to the unborn child, depending on how prosecutors decide to proceed. The fact that Williams allegedly planned the trip to San Diego and used deception to lure Edwards outside could factor into potential charges and sentencing considerations.
The shooting has shaken both the San Diego community where it occurred and Edwards’ hometown in Arizona. “Her legacy is that her daughter is going to be everything she wanted to be and so much more, and she should be proud of that,” Edwards’ aunt told 12 News. Family members are now focused on caring for the newborn, who continues to fight for her life in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit. The baby’s condition has not improved significantly since the emergency delivery, according to police updates. Friends and family members have described the shooting as particularly shocking given that Edwards was visiting San Diego for what was supposed to be a joyful family vacation. The rental property where the shooting occurred is located in a residential neighborhood that typically sees little violent crime.
Williams remains in custody at the San Diego County jail without bail. Court records show this is his first major criminal charge, though authorities have not released details about any prior interactions between Williams and Edwards or potential domestic violence history. The investigation continues as prosecutors prepare their case for what could become a high-profile murder trial involving an expectant mother and her surviving newborn.
scum of the earth, death too good for this creep.
must have a single digit IQ