The man accused of fatally shooting a pregnant teenager in a Louisiana road rage incident now faces a second-degree murder charge, authorities said. The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office confirmed that 17-year-old Katelynn Strate died Tuesday after being removed from life support.
Strate had been shot in the head during a confrontation on Sunday morning near Ponchatoula. Strate was seven months pregnant at the time of the shooting. Doctors performed an emergency C-section to deliver her baby, who was 28 weeks along.
The sheriff’s office reported the infant “continues to do well under medical care.” Her family later announced that, once it became clear she would not recover, Strate became an organ donor. According to investigators, the incident began when Strate was riding as a passenger in a Ford Expedition with two others.
Deputies said the driver of the SUV and 54-year-old Barry West, driving a Dodge truck, started tailgating and “brake-checking” one another on North Hoover Road. Authorities allege West opened fire on the SUV, striking Strate. He later told investigators he believed someone inside the Ford shot at him first and that he was acting in self-defense.
Detectives, however, said their investigation found no evidence of any gunfire from the SUV, and no weapon was recovered inside the vehicle. Shortly after the shooting, social media posts claimed West was a former deputy with the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office.
The agency pushed back on those reports, saying its records show no evidence to support that claim. “Records dating back as far as our system currently allows [2007] do not show any employees with the last name West,” officials said.
The sheriff’s office said the investigation remains active and asked anyone with additional information to contact the Criminal Investigations Division at 985-902-2088. Meanwhile, Strate’s family is preparing for her funeral, with arrangements still pending.
The loss has devastated her loved ones, who are now focusing on caring for her newborn child. While the baby continues to receive medical attention, West remains in custody, facing a charge that could put him behind bars for life. A GoFundMe page was started to raise money for the baby’s medical care and Strate’s funeral expenses.