A jury convicted a Birmingham woman of capital murder in the 2023 killing of a pregnant mother.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — An Alabama woman who was eight months pregnant when she fatally shot another pregnant woman in 2023 has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after a jury found her guilty of capital murder.
The case drew attention because both women were expecting children at the time of the shooting and shared a connection through the same man. Prosecutors argued that the killing was an intentional act carried out in front of the victim’s children, while defense attorneys claimed the defendant acted in self-defense. The conviction closes a years-long criminal case that included a mistrial before jurors ultimately reached a verdict.
Aaniyah Nowden, 24, was charged in the death of 36-year-old Justina Wallace after a shooting on July 7, 2023, at a residence on Birmingham’s 17th Avenue North. According to authorities, Wallace was several months pregnant and was holding her toddler daughter while two of her sons stood nearby when the confrontation occurred. Prosecutors said Nowden approached Wallace with a gun and opened fire. Wallace was struck and transported to a hospital, where she died the following day. Police later arrested Nowden and charged her with capital murder. The case moved through the court system over the next several years as investigators gathered evidence and attorneys prepared for trial. During proceedings, jurors heard competing accounts of what happened in the moments before the shooting and whether Wallace posed any threat to the defendant.
At trial, prosecutors maintained that Wallace was unarmed and did not present a danger that would justify the use of deadly force. Deputy District Attorney Jason Wilson told jurors that the victim was carrying her child and was not attacking anyone when she was shot. Prosecutors portrayed the incident as a deliberate act rather than a spontaneous response to danger. Defense attorneys argued that Nowden acted to protect herself and described Wallace as aggressive and belligerent during the encounter. Jurors were asked to weigh those competing narratives against testimony and other evidence presented in court. Details released publicly indicate that Wallace’s toddler daughter was fathered by the same man who also fathered Nowden’s child. That connection became a prominent part of public discussion surrounding the case, although prosecutors focused their arguments on the events immediately surrounding the shooting and the circumstances of Wallace’s death.
The killing shocked many residents in Birmingham because it involved two pregnant women and occurred in the presence of young children. Court records and public statements throughout the case emphasized the emotional toll on Wallace’s family, including the children who were nearby when the shooting happened. Prosecutors described the case as one involving a vulnerable victim and argued that the facts supported a capital murder conviction. The defense sought to cast doubt on that conclusion by highlighting the alleged conflict between the two women and asserting that Nowden feared for her safety. The case also drew attention because Nowden gave birth while in custody after her arrest. Reports indicated that her child was born during the period in which she awaited trial. The unusual circumstances surrounding both pregnancies contributed to widespread interest in the proceedings.
The legal process included a significant setback before the final conviction. Earlier in May, a trial ended in a mistrial after the pool of available jurors became insufficient following jury selection and related proceedings. Prosecutors then moved forward with a new trial. During the retrial, jurors reviewed evidence, heard witness testimony and listened to arguments from both sides regarding self-defense and intent. After deliberations, the jury found Nowden guilty of capital murder. Prosecutors sought the death penalty, one of the most severe punishments available under Alabama law. The court instead imposed a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. That sentence ensures that Nowden will remain incarcerated for the rest of her life unless future legal developments alter the outcome. Any appeal would proceed through the state appellate system.
Family members and courtroom observers listened as the case reached its conclusion. Prosecutors framed the verdict as accountability for the death of a mother and her unborn child. Defense attorneys continued to maintain that the shooting occurred under circumstances that justified self-defense. The emotional weight of the proceedings was heightened by repeated references to the children who witnessed the encounter and by the fact that both women were expecting babies at the time. Throughout the trial, attorneys revisited the events of that summer day in Birmingham, seeking to persuade jurors about what happened and why. The jury ultimately sided with prosecutors, finding that the evidence supported a conviction for capital murder rather than a claim of lawful self-protection.
The case now stands in its post-conviction phase, with the guilty verdict and life-without-parole sentence entered against Nowden. Any future developments are expected to come through appeals or other court filings as the criminal proceedings move forward.
Author note: Last updated May 31, 2026.