Pregnant woman arrested in killing of pregnant woman holding baby faces possible execution
Aaniyah Nowden is charged in the July 7, 2023 shooting death of 36-year-old Justina Wallace.
Ethan Parker 
A Jefferson County jury is currently weighing the fate of Aaniyah Nowden, a 24-year-old woman facing potential execution for the 2023 shooting death of a pregnant mother in Birmingham. The trial, presided over by Circuit Judge Alaric May, is reaching a critical turning point as deliberations began Wednesday following extensive closing arguments.
The Charges
Nowden faces three counts of capital murder related to the July 7, 2023, killing of 36-year-old Justina Wallace. The charges include the murder of two or more people—specifically Wallace and her unborn child—the murder of a child, and capital murder committed in the presence of Wallace’s other children. Prosecutors are actively seeking the death penalty in the case.
A Tragic Encounter
The incident occurred just before 7 p.m. on July 7, 2023, in the 3200 block of 17th Avenue North. Cell phone video captured the moment Nowden aimed a weapon at Wallace, who was holding her toddler daughter, Sky. Wallace was transported to UAB Hospital, where she was pronounced dead the following day. Just days after the shooting, family members gathered for what became a bittersweet second birthday party for the toddler, Sky.
Arguments in Court
The trial saw heated exchanges between the defense and prosecution teams. Nowden, who was eight months pregnant at the time of the shooting, took the stand to claim she acted in self-defense, arguing she feared for her life during an argument with Wallace and the father of their respective children. Defense attorney Louvenia Borom characterized the state's case as a half-done investigation relying on biased witnesses, including Wallace’s two sons who were present during the shooting.
Conversely, prosecutors Deputy District Attorneys Amanda Wineman and Jason Wilson maintained that the evidence points to cold-blooded murder. Wilson highlighted that Wallace was unarmed and holding her child when she was shot. Wineman dismissed the defense's self-defense claims, telling jurors that being yelled at during a verbal altercation does not justify the use of lethal force, and urged the jury to return a verdict of guilty.
