Baby Survives After Pregnant Louisiana Teen Killed in Road Rage Shooting

Katelynn Strate died after being shot in a road rage incident in Louisiana

The baby of a 17-year-old pregnant girl who was shot and killed in Louisiana is said to be doing “miraculously” well, according to her family.

Katelynn Strate, seven months pregnant, was driving with her boyfriend and his sister to their mother’s home when 54-year-old Barry West began driving aggressively around them. Witnesses said he tailgated their car, repeatedly brake-checked them, and grew increasingly erratic.

A family friend says Katelynn was looking forward to becoming a mother

When Strate’s boyfriend attempted to pass West’s vehicle, West opened fire, striking Strate in the back of the head. West later told investigators he believed the car had fired at him first, though authorities confirmed no weapon was found inside Strate’s vehicle.

Strate was rushed to the hospital, where doctors delivered her baby girl via C-section. The infant, weighing 3 pounds 11 ounces, was born just before Strate was taken off life support. Her family made the difficult decision to donate her organs, saying, “Her generosity will save lives, and we are immensely proud of her for that final act of kindness.”

Katelynn loved spending time outdoors, whether it out in the woods or fishing on the lake

Family friends shared that while the baby’s name has not been publicly released, Strate deeply loved her child and was looking forward to motherhood. “She chose to give this baby life, and she was so excited to be a mother,” said Katie Cancienne Liebert, a close friend of the family.

Strate and her partner had recently celebrated a gender reveal party, where they discovered they were expecting a girl. Friends and relatives described the couple’s bond as one filled with genuine love.

Katelynn's gender reveal party

West has been charged with second-degree murder, three counts of attempted second-degree murder, and other related charges, according to the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office. Following his arrest, multiple people came forward claiming to have had prior dangerous encounters with him on the road.

Since Strate’s death, more than $52,500 has been raised to support her funeral expenses and provide for her newborn. The local community also organized a communal baby shower to ensure her child is cared for in her absence.

Barry West mugshot