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
Blue Origin safely launches wheelchair user to space and back

Historic Blue Origin Mission: First Wheelchair User Successfully Travels to Space and Returns

In a remarkable achievement for space travel and inclusivity, Blue Origin, led…
US forces stop 2nd merchant vessel off coast of Venezuela, American officials say; President Trump ramps up pressure on Maduro

US Forces Intercept Second Merchant Vessel Near Venezuelan Coast, Officials Report; President Trump Intensifies Pressure on Maduro

In a significant development off the coast of Venezuela, U.S. forces intercepted…
Elizabeth Smart blasts Ghislaine Maxwell’s ‘country club’ prison treatment: ‘Makes me sick’

Elizabeth Smart Condemns Ghislaine Maxwell’s ‘Luxury’ Prison Conditions: ‘It’s Appalling

Elizabeth Smart has expressed her anger over reports that Ghislaine Maxwell, the…
RICHARD JOHNSON: Meghan Markle afraid to visit ailing father due to paparazzi

Meghan Markle Reluctant to Visit Ill Father Amidst Paparazzi Concerns, Reports Suggest

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, wishes to see her father, who…
Cruise ship chaos mounts as deaths, crimes on board shatter illusions of safety at sea, experts warn

Cruise Ship Concerns Escalate: Experts Highlight Rising Onboard Incidents and Safety Challenges

Cruise ships have long been a popular choice for American vacationers, offering…
Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears look to get payback against Michah Parsons-less Green Bay Packers in NFC North showdown

Caleb Williams and Chicago Bears Aim for Redemption Against Green Bay Packers in NFC North Clash, Benefiting From Micah Parsons’ Absence

CHICAGO — Riding high with a five-game winning streak and victories in…
Hidden holiday heart risks: Why heart attacks spike during the festive season

Unwrapping the Hidden Dangers: Why Heart Attacks Surge During the Festive Season

As the holiday season unfolds, many of us find ourselves indulging in…
State Attorney's Office to seek death penalty for suspect in deadly Putnam County stabbing

Putnam County Stabbing Case: State Attorney Pursues Death Penalty for Suspect

The harrowing nature of a recent crime in Putnam County, Florida, has…
New text messages fuel Alex Murdaugh's push for new trial

Legal Twist: Could Court Clerk’s Misconduct Open the Door for a Murdaugh Retrial?

Alex Murdaugh’s defense team has expressed a sense of “cautious optimism” regarding…
Substitute teacher arrested after encouraging kids to fight at Duval County middle school, police say

Duval County Substitute Teacher Arrested for Allegedly Inciting Student Fights at Middle School

A substitute teacher at Lake Shore Middle School in Jacksonville, Florida, has…
NYCHA must be central to Mamdani housing plan

Transforming NYC Housing: Why NYCHA is Key to Mamdani’s Visionary Plan

For a glimpse into New York’s housing outlook, it’s crucial to consider…
Desperate search for two men as fishing boat found empty 70 miles off Florida coast

Urgent Search Underway: Two Fishermen Missing After Empty Boat Discovered 70 Miles Off Florida Coast

The search efforts are intensifying for two fishermen, Randall Spivey, 57, and…