Hospital Releases Baby of Woman Slain in Drive-by

Keniesha Pope Harden, born earlier this month just minutes before her mother died of gunshot wounds suffered in a Long Beach drive-by shooting, has been released from a hospital. The baby’s mother, Kentzie Pope, died on the operating table at St. Mary Medical Center early Aug. 2, just 20 minutes after giving birth.

Pope, 30, was shot in front of her Elm Avenue apartment building. Police said they think gang members were aiming at someone else.

Pope, who was eight months pregnant, was kept alive while an emergency Cesarean was performed. Family members said the infant will live with her aunt, grandmother, two sisters and a cousin. “We will all help” raise the 4 pound, 6 ounce infant, said her aunt, Deirdre Pope.