A 17-year-old expectant mother was tragically shot in the head during a suspected ‘road rage’ incident, gazing at her boyfriend as they rushed to the hospital.
Katelynn Strate, who was 28 weeks pregnant, was traveling in a vehicle with her 19-year-old boyfriend on the morning of August 24 when she was fatally injured. She later succumbed to her injuries.
The vehicle, carrying Katelynn, her boyfriend, and two other passengers, was moving through the Ponchatoula area north of New Orleans when they crossed paths with 54-year-old Barry West, who was driving in the same direction.
Family friend Katie Cancienne Liebert refuted initial reports suggesting that both vehicles were tailgating and engaging in brake-checking behaviors.
A lone bullet penetrated the car, striking Katelynn who was seated in the front passenger seat and leaving her gravely injured, while her boyfriend Alain Cruz faced an unimaginable ordeal.
Liebert stated: “He’s a 19-year-old kid, and he watched his 17-year-old girlfriend, who he’s in love with, get shot in the head.”
“He’s the last thing she saw before she died. She was staring at him the whole way to the hospital, struggling to breathe, holding his hand.”
In the wake of losing both his girlfriend and the mother of his child, Cruz also faced threats, according to Liebert.
“The baby’s father is getting death threats and being told that he deserves to die because he put his pregnant girlfriend in danger, when in reality, that day, he was a hero,” she shared with PEOPLE.
Upon realizing the severity of Katelynn’s injuries, Cruz acted quickly by calling 911 and heading to the hospital.
At the hospital, an emergency C-section was performed, successfully saving Katelynn’s baby. The newborn, described as ‘extremely strong and kicking’ by KHOU 11, remains anonymous as the family desires privacy.
On August 26, police confirmed Katelynn’s death and noted that her family chose to donate her organs as an act of giving ‘the Gift of Life’.
The investigation revealed that no other shots were fired during the incident.
The sheriff’s office stated: “As a result of the investigation, it was determined while West believed the occupants of the vehicle in front of him had shot at him first, evidence has confirmed there were no other shots fired in the incident and there was no weapon in the vehicle the victim was traveling in.”
West was taken into custody at the Tangipahoa Parish Jail, facing charges of multiple counts of attempted second-degree murder, illegal use of a weapon, and obstruction of justice.
Following confirmation of Katelynn’s passing, the charges were revised to include second-degree murder.
Katelynn’s family has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to assist with ‘funeral and baby needs’, which can be accessed here.