Photo of Katelynn, a pregnant 17-year-old girl, on a boat at sunset.
Share this @internewscast.com

A 17-YEAR-OLD girl was kept on life support in a desperate bid to save her baby after being shot in the head in a road rage attack.

Seventeen-year-old Katelynn Strate lost her life in a tragic shooting on Sunday morning while she and her boyfriend were driving to his mother’s residence in Louisiana.

Photo of Katelynn, a pregnant 17-year-old girl, on a boat at sunset.
Katelynn Strate, 17, was shot in the head in a ‘road rage incident’
Photo of Katelynn, a 17-year-old pregnant girl who died.
Her killer, 54-year-old Barry West, has been charged with four counts of attempted second-degree murder
Pink gender reveal.
Katelynn and her boyfriend at their unborn baby’s gender reveal party

The couple’s car and another travelling in the same direction began tailgating and brake-checking each other, according to local outlet Nola.com.

The driver of the second car – identified as 54-year-old Barry West – then began firing into the Ford Expedition.

Katelynn, who was seven months pregnant, was struck in the head as she sat in the front passenger seat.

She was rushed to the hospital and placed on life support while doctors performed an emergency C-section.

The baby is being monitored in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Despite the little girl weighing just three pounds and 11 ounces, she is in stable condition, authorities said.

Katelynn could not recover from her injuries, her heartbroken family earlier revealed.

The family took her off life support soon after and preparations are underway for her funeral.

“[Her] mother is devastated,” family friend Katie Cancienne told Nola.com. 

“She just lost her baby, and now she’s a grandmother.”

Thug GUILTY after girl, 9, shot in head when gangster opened fire in botched hit

A GoFundMe campaign was started in her memory, stating: “We are collecting donations for Katelynn Strate, aged 17, who was tragically killed in a road rage incident in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, while she was 27 weeks pregnant.

“Her baby survived, and we need assistance to cover Katelynn’s funeral costs, medical bills, and the necessary baby supplies for her grandmother, who is now responsible for the baby’s care.”

Barry West was arrested and held at the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, facing four charges of attempted second-degree murder, as well as illegal weapon use and obstruction of justice, the sheriff’s office announced on Monday.

Sheriff Gerald Sticker said: “This is a senseless tragedy… with no logical reason for this family to be experiencing this heartbreak right now.”

It comes as a young woman tragically died after suffering a severe allergic reaction following a CT scan.

Leticia Paul, 22, has a history of kidney stones and was at Alto Vale hospital in Rio do Sul, Brazil, for a routine examination.

She experienced a severe reaction to a contrast agent used in CT and MRI scans, which includes a special dye that enhances the visibility of organs and tissues in medical images.

People standing in pink smoke in a park.
The couple celebrated that they were having a girl
Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Trump's indictment of New York attorney general Letitia James stirs concerns for Black women leaders

Concerns Arise for Black Women Leaders as Trump Indicts New York Attorney General Letitia James

WASHINGTON (AP) — The coalition of New York NAACP chapters had just…
Emergency flights diverted from Portland hospital amid 'laser party' threats at ICE facility: report

Emergency Flights Rerouted from Portland Hospital Due to ‘Laser Party’ Threats at ICE Facility: Report

A proposal to aim laser lights at the sky to disrupt federal…
Roseland, Chicago shooting: McKale Mitchell, man shot by police officer on West 111th Place, facing assault charges, CPD says

Roseland, Chicago: McKale Mitchell Faces Assault Charges After Being Shot by Officer on West 111th Place, According to CPD

CHICAGO (WLS) — A man who was shot by a Chicago police…
Hamas co-founder snaps after being questioned on Oct. 7 aftermath: ‘Go to hell’

Hamas Co-Founder Loses Composure After Questioning About October 7 Events: ‘Go to Hell’

A prominent leader from Hamas lost his composure and abruptly ended a…
Court: National Guard troops sent to Illinois by Trump can stay but can’t be deployed for now

Court Decision: National Guard Troops Sent to Illinois by Trump Can Remain, but Deployment is Restricted for Now

CHICAGO (AP) — An appeals court determined on Saturday that although National…
A helicopter crash in Huntington Beach, California, on Saturday has left five people hospitalized, authorities confirmed to Fox News Digital.

Helicopter Plummets from Sky, Crashes in Southern California Beach Parking Lot, Injuring 5

A helicopter crash on Saturday in Huntington Beach, California was captured on…
Heavy rain in Mexico sets off floods and landslides, killing at least 41

Severe Rainfall in Mexico Triggers Floods and Landslides, Resulting in at Least 41 Deaths

POZA RICA, Mexico — Residents of the low-lying neighborhoods in Poza Rica…
Chicago Marathon 2025: Thousands of runners descend on Windy City ahead of Bank of America Chicago Marathon October 12

Chicago Marathon 2025: Thousands of Runners Hit the Streets Ahead of Bank of America Race on October 12

CHICAGO (WLS) — As the 47th Bank of America Chicago Marathon approaches…
Trump peace plan for Gaza could be just a 'pause' before Hamas strikes again, experts warn

Experts Caution: Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan Might Only Temporarily Halt Hamas Conflicts

The new Gaza peace framework proposed by President Donald Trump has the…
Netanyahu advisor expresses 'deep faith' in Trump's Gaza ceasefire plan framework approach

Netanyahu Aide Confident in Trump’s Strategy for Gaza Ceasefire Plan

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fully trusts President Donald Trump’s dedication to…
Truce fizzles as U.S.-China trade tensions return to full boil

U.S.-China Trade Tensions Heat Up Again After Brief Truce

NEW YORK (AP) — A once subdued trade conflict between China and…
St. Augustine residents weigh in on new 'No Wake' law during tidal flooding

St. Augustine Locals Share Thoughts on ‘No Wake’ Rule Amid Tidal Flooding

Cordova Street has been inundated with flooding with high tides pushing several…