Jana Maarcelin Collins, 26

Jana Collins, a 26-year-old black woman, died Wednesday, May 5, in the 1900 block of South Corning Street in Mid-City, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Collins, who was 18 weeks pregnant at the time, was sitting in a parked car Wednesday morning when a gunman opened fire on a group of people. She was hit once in the head.

Friends jumped in the car and drove her to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead about 9:30 a.m., police said. Collins' unborn baby, later identified as Desire Green, was delivered by emergency C-section. Desire died shortly after delivery, according to coroner's records.

The intended target appears to have been the woman's husband, who police said was a suspected gang member visiting friends in the neighborhood.

Lt. Tony Carranza of the Los Angeles Police Department said the husband had just gotten out of the car, when two men pulled up in a sport utility vehicle. One of them fired multiple rounds.

“She was not an intended target,” he said. “It looks like she was a victim of circumstance of being at the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Residents said they heard at least five shots in rapid succession. Collins and her husband regularly visited friends who live in a house next to where the slaying occurred, according to neighbors.

“She was a good person,” said Jerry Robles, 19, who lives across the street. “She was always the first to ask, 'How was your day?' "

-- Andrew Blankstein and Robert J. Lopez

Photo: Candles near the spot where the shooting occurred. Credit: Robert J. Lopez / Los Angeles Times