Marshae Jones suffered a miscarriage after being shot and has now been charged with the unborn baby's death (Police handout)

A pregnant woman who lost her baby when she was shot in the stomach has been charged with the unborn infant’s death.

Marshae Jones, 27, became involved in a fight with 23-year-old Ebony Jemison while she was five months pregnant in Birmingham, Alabama, in December last year.

The incident resulted in Jemison firing a gun at Jones, who went on to suffer a miscarriage.

However, police decided that Jones should be charged with the baby’s death as she instigated the fight and continued to lash out after she was shot.

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Pleasant Grove Police Lieutenant Danny Reid said: “The investigation showed that the only true victim in this was the unborn baby.

“It was the mother of the child who initiated and continued the fight which resulted in the death of her own unborn baby.”

Arguing that Jemison was acting in self-defence, Lieutenant Reid added: “When a 5-month pregnant woman initiates a fight and attacks another person, I believe some responsibility lies with her as to any injury to her unborn child.

View photos Ebony Jemison shot Jones in the stomach during a fight (Police handout) More

”That child is dependent on its mother to try to keep it from harm, and she shouldn’t seek out unnecessary physical altercations.”

A Jefferson County grand jury cleared Jemison of manslaughter, instead indicting Jones with the charge.

Jones is currently being held at Jefferson County Jail.

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