Family Shares Journey of Tampa Newborn Surviving Womb Shooting

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In Tampa, Florida, the family of a newborn who was tragically shot while in her mother’s womb is breaking their silence following the suspect’s recent court appearance in Hillsborough County.

The baby’s mother is currently on the mend, while the newborn remains hospitalized. Given the unusual circumstances, the hospital has temporarily identified the baby as Jane Doe. However, her grandmother reveals she has a meaningful name.

“Her name is Eternity, and we affectionately call her E-Miracle because she truly is a miracle baby,” shared Priscilla Odoms, the grandmother of both the child and the wounded mother. “She now has a feeding tube and struggles to keep food down, but she is gradually improving.”

As they grapple with this heartbreaking event, the family is striving to heal. Odoms’ daughter, the child’s mother, is focused on staying resilient through this challenging time.

“She breaks down a little bit. But she’s okay,” Odoms said.

Eric Patterson, who was in court this week, is accused of shooting his pregnant girlfriend and their unborn child on November 22. Odoms said Patterson called her when it happened.

“He said he had the gun, the gun went off and hit her in the stomach. He said, ‘It wasn’t on purpose, it wasn’t on purpose. The gun went off. The gun went off. Ma, I didn’t mean to do that’,” Odoms said.

Patterson also told police it was an accident. The judge granted the state’s motion for pe-trial detention saying, “The chances of that occurring accidentally while she was laying
in bed and Patterson was standing nearby fiddling with a firearm are not zero, but
they are astronomically low.”

The judge listed four facts of the case suggesting he intentionally shot his girlfriend, including him hanging up after calling 911, that he fled after dropping the victim at the hospital, he disposed of the gun, and told police he drove to Clearwater but evidence shows he drove to Plant City and then to his sister’s house in Ruskin.

The motion mentioned how Patterson was released from prison in February after serving three years on charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault, and fleeing to elude. He was also convicted of aggravated battery, grand theft, and felony battery in 2005. He served four years in prison. The judge set his bail at $205,000.

Odoms said she and Patterson had a good relationship.

“He wasn’t a bad guy. And, you know, he looks like he’s a bad guy because all these charges that he had,” Odoms said. “I’m just angry with him. But I can forgive him because they lived.”

But this is not her focus right now. She said she wants her daughter and grandkids to pull out of this nightmare.

“She’s a great mother. And I just want Eternity to get the care that she needs and be able to get back home with her family. That that’s all we want,” Odoms said.

Odoms said the family is asking the community to help with hospital expenses and therapy for her daughter and other four grandchildren. One of Odoms’ grandkids was lying in bed with their mother when the shooting happened.