Pregnant teen dies in highway rage capturing, child survives at 28 weeks

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A 17-year-old Louisiana girl who was shot within the head throughout a highway rage incident has died, officers confirmed, however along with her dying got here the present of life.

Katelynn Strate of Ponchatoula was 28 weeks pregnant when Barry West, 54, allegedly critically injured {the teenager} who was 7 months pregnant.

Strate’s child was delivered by way of emergency C-section and TPSO say the child was born at 28 weeks, 3 kilos 11 ounces and is "persevering with to do nicely" in an space neonatal intensive care unit.

"This can be a mindless tragedy on Sunday morning with no logical purpose for this household to be experiencing this heartbreak proper now," stated Sheriff Gerald Sticker. "The general public must be affected person and thoughtful when driving, always, and if there's a concern to your security, name 911 and report the priority."

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The suspect, Barry West, 54, now faces a homicide cost together with a number of different counts. Investigators say West fired into Strate’s SUV after a tailgating dispute, regardless of discovering no proof the teenager’s automobile was armed or fired any pictures. (Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Workplace )

Officers say West fired into an SUV that Strate was a passenger in after a tailgating dispute. The sufferer was with two different folks, they usually have been touring in the identical route as West, who was driving a silver Dodge truck. The assertion says that the 2 automobiles started to tailgate and break-check one another earlier than West shot one round into the SUV .

When the driving force realized Strate had been shot, they referred to as 911 and drove her to the hospital the place she was positioned on life help, in keeping with the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Workplace.

Katelynn Strate was shot within the head on Aug. 25 in what authorities described as a highway rage incident. (GoFundMe)

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West claims he believed the occupants of the automobile in entrance of him shot first, however TPSO was unable to search out proof to verify the pictures have been fired, and no weapon was discovered within the sufferer's automobile.

West has been booked into the Tangipahoa Parish Jail on one rely of Second Diploma Homicide, plus the three counts of Tried 2nd Diploma Homicide, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Obstruction, in keeping with the sheriff's workplace.

Officers additionally moved to clear up questions surrounding West’s attainable ties to the division.

"To deal with questions concerning this suspect's affiliation with TPSO, information courting again so far as our system at the moment permits (2007) don't present any workers with the final identify of West," TPSO famous.

The pregnant teen was shot within the head throughout a highway rage incident. (GoFundMe)

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Strate’s household has made the choice to donate her organs, and officers say she has "formally turn into a donor hero." The sheriff’s workplace urged the group to honor her legacy by rallying round her family members — providing prayers of consolation and energy as they face this heartbreaking loss.