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Pregnant Teen Killed in Louisiana Road Rage Shooting, Baby Survives
PONCHATOULA, La. — A 17-year-old pregnant teenager, Katelynn Strate, died following a road rage shooting in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, on Aug. 26, 2025, after being critically injured on Aug. 24. Strate, seven months pregnant, was a passenger in a Ford Expedition when she was shot in the head by Barry West, 54, of Tickfaw, authorities said. The incident occurred around 9 a.m. on North Hoover Road, approximately 50 miles north of New Orleans.
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The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office reported that West, driving a silver Dodge truck, and the SUV’s driver were engaged in mutual tailgating and brake-checking. West fired a single round into the SUV, striking Strate in the front passenger seat. West claimed he believed the SUV’s occupants had shot at him first, but investigators found no evidence of gunfire from the SUV and no weapons inside the vehicle.
Strate was rushed to North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond, where an emergency C-section was performed, delivering her 28-week-old baby girl, weighing 3 pounds, 11 ounces. The infant, described as healthy and strong, remains in neonatal intensive care. Strate was kept on life support to facilitate the delivery and organ donation. Following an organ donation ceremony, she was removed from life support and pronounced dead on Tuesday evening.
West was initially arrested on four counts of attempted second-degree murder, one count of illegal use of a weapon, and obstruction of justice. Following Strate’s death, one charge was upgraded to second-degree murder. Sheriff Gerald Sticker called the incident a “senseless tragedy,” noting the profound loss to Strate’s family.
Strate, described by family friend Katie Cancienne as witty, bubbly, and sweet, was excited about motherhood. She was close with her mother, Kristen Nicole Blow, and enjoyed spending time with her sisters. The shooting shocked the Ponchatoula community, which Cancienne described as a safe town. Community members expressed grief and outrage on social media, mourning Strate’s loss and praising her kind nature.
A GoFundMe campaign has raised nearly $30,000 to cover funeral expenses, medical bills, and essentials for Strate’s baby, who will be raised by her grandmother. A community baby shower and donation drive are scheduled for Aug. 30 at First United Methodist Church in Ponchatoula to support the family. Authorities are investigating reports of prior road rage incidents on Hoover Road and urge anyone with information to contact the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at 985-902-2088.
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