A 17-year-old pregnant teen from Ponchatoula, Louisiana, has died after being shot in the head during a road rage incident on Sunday, August 24, police confirmed.
The Shooting
The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office (TPSO) said Katelynn Strate, who was 28 weeks pregnant, was riding in the passenger seat of a Ford Expedition on North Hoover Road when the vehicle became involved in a confrontation with a silver Dodge truck driven by Barry West, 54.
According to investigators:
The two vehicles had been tailgating and brake-checking each other.
West allegedly fired a single shot into the Expedition, striking Strate in the head.
The driver immediately called 911 and rushed her to a nearby hospital.
West later claimed he believed the other vehicle had fired at him first, but authorities confirmed no weapon was found inside Strate’s vehicle and no other shots were fired.
Emergency Delivery and Tragic Death
Doctors performed an emergency C-section at the hospital, successfully delivering Strate’s baby. The infant remains in stable condition in a NICU.
On Tuesday, August 26, the sheriff’s office confirmed that Strate had died from her injuries. Her family made the decision to donate her organs, calling it the “Gift of Life.”
Charges Against the Suspect
Barry West was initially charged with:
Four counts of Attempted Second-Degree Murder
Illegal Use of a Weapon
Obstruction of Justice
After Strate’s death, his charges were upgraded to Second-Degree Murder, while three counts of attempted murder and the other charges remain. He is being held in Tangipahoa Parish Jail.
Authorities also addressed rumors that West had ties to law enforcement, clarifying that records dating back to 2007 show no employment connection between him and TPSO.
Community Response and Fundraiser
Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Gerald Sticker called the shooting “a senseless tragedy,” urging drivers to stay calm on the road and call 911 if they feel unsafe instead of escalating confrontations.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Strate’s grandmother cover funeral expenses, medical bills, and the cost of caring for the baby. As of Wednesday, August 27, donations had reached nearly $25,900.
What began as a morning drive in Ponchatoula ended in devastating loss, with a young mother killed and her newborn left to grow up without her. As the community grieves, officials continue to stress patience on the roads to prevent tragedies like this one. Meanwhile, Strate’s family is focusing on the survival and care of her infant, who remains under medical supervision.
