The define of a tiny footprint in black ink stands out towards a white sheet of paper lined with a pastel pink border. “Baby’s first footprint,” it reads.
The baby lady, born at simply 3 kilos, 11 ounces final Sunday, is doing remarkably nicely. Her family says she’s been a supply of sunshine in an unimaginably darkish time.
Her mom, 17-year-old Katelynn Strate, was seven months pregnant when she was shot by a driver in a road rage incident earlier that day, police say. The baby was delivered through emergency C-section, whereas her mom was handled in the crucial care unit.
Days later, police introduced Katelynn had died as a “donor hero.”
“Today, her generosity will save lives, and we are immensely proud of her for that final act of kindness,” Katelynn’s family mentioned in a assertion shared by family buddy Katie Cancienne Liebert.
The suspect who allegedly shot Katelynn, 54-year-old Barry West, has been charged with second-degree homicide and three counts of tried second-degree homicide, amongst different fees, the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office mentioned.
That Sunday morning, Katelynn was using in a automotive in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, with her boyfriend and his sister, Liebert mentioned, when issues took a flip for the more severe.
The sheriff’s workplace mentioned it was round 9 a.m. when the SUV Katelynn was using in and West’s automobile started tailgating and “brake-checking,” or deliberately hitting the brakes, in entrance of one another.
But Katelynn’s family maintains the incident was unprovoked. Katelynn’s boyfriend, who was driving the automotive, didn’t have interaction in brake-checking or different road rage habits; he handed West’s automotive after he mentioned he seen it was driving erratically, Liebert mentioned.
He was not charged with something associated to the incident, the sheriff’s workplace advised NCS.
West allegedly fired a gun into the again of the SUV, taking pictures Katelynn, who was in the passenger seat, in the top, police mentioned.
“While West believed the occupants of the vehicle in front of him had shot at him first, evidence has confirmed there were no other shots fired in the incident and there was no weapon in the vehicle the victim was traveling in,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
When the sheriff’s workplace introduced the homicide fees towards West in a Facebook submit, it urged those that imagine they’ve had related encounters with the suspect to come back ahead. Comments citing road rage began rolling in.
“We have seen/heard people indicating they may have encountered him in similar scenarios before but it doesn’t appear those were ever reported,” Ashley Rodrigue, a public info officer with the sheriff’s workplace, advised NCS.
“Several individuals have placed comments on our Facebook page detailing incidents they believe may have been with (West). We have replied to all of them asking for an official report.”
Only a kind of commenters has adopted up with an official report, and it turned out to be unrelated to the suspect in this case, Rodrigue mentioned.
In their assertion, Katelynn’s family careworn that this was “a preventable tragedy,” and they’re talking out to make sure “justice is pursued.”
NCS couldn’t instantly determine whether or not West has retained a lawyer to touch upon his behalf.
The violent incident has sparked widespread condemnation, together with a dialog about road rage.
“Just devastating and so senseless,” Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill mentioned on X, earlier saying there was no excuse for the tragedy that occurred “all because of road rage.”
Louisiana topped the checklist of states with essentially the most road rage for the second 12 months in a row, based on a Consumer Affairs report launched in May.
“Nearly 60% of the state’s fatal crashes and traffic deaths were linked to aggressive or careless driving, the highest rates in the nation,” the report notes.
In addition to elevating consciousness concerning the risks of road rage, the family desires justice for Katelynn and to see West charged to the fullest extent of the regulation, Liebert mentioned.
In the meantime, they’re centered on caring for Katelynn’s baby lady and attempting to maintain her reminiscence alive.
Katelynn was a true nation lady, Liebert mentioned. She spent her weekends out on the lake and favored to fish and spend time in the woods.
She was all the time lively, Liebert mentioned, describing her as a “tomboy,” with a nice humorousness.
Even a sprained arm couldn’t cease her, Liebert recalled, sharing a video of Katelynn doing cartwheels with one bandaged arm. She sticks the touchdown and says with a smile, “I can do it with one hand.”
Katelynn was excited to grow to be a mom, working to pursue her training and put together for her daughter’s arrival, Liebert mentioned.
“She hadn’t had a name picked out for her baby, and she hadn’t had her baby shower yet,” Liebert mentioned.
Katelynn learns her baby’s gender
Katelynn had solely chosen a few pairs of baby garments and footwear after discovering out the baby’s gender.
Recently, Katelynn and her boyfriend gathered with family and buddies and cheered as shiny pink confetti stuffed the air and they discovered she was pregnant with a baby lady. Wearing a blue sundress and a tiara, Katelynn might be seen beaming and embracing her boyfriend in a video Liebert shared of the occasion.
“We know that without a doubt she loved this baby,” Liebert mentioned. “She chose to give this baby life, and she was looking forward to being a mother.”
Her family, who’s holding the baby’s title personal, hosted a neighborhood baby shower in Katelynn’s honor on Saturday at First United Methodist Church in downtown Ponchatoula, Liebert mentioned. Those who’ve heard Katelynn’s story are desperate to assist the family.
A GoFundMe for Katelynn’s funeral bills and baby care has raised over $45,000 in the times since her demise.