Ponchatoula, LA – August 26, 2025 – The Tangipahoa Parish community is mourning the tragic loss of 17-year-old Katelynn Strate, who died Tuesday evening, three days after being critically injured in a road rage shooting while seven months pregnant. Authorities are investigating the incident, which they describe as a deliberate and senseless attack on the roadway.
According to family friends, Strate was critically wounded in the Sunday morning shooting but was kept on life support to save her unborn child. An emergency C-section was performed approximately 30 minutes after the shooting, and Strate delivered a healthy baby girl. Following an organ donation ceremony, she was taken off life support, as confirmed by the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Strate and her boyfriend were reportedly headed to his mother’s home on North Hoover Road in a Ford Expedition when the incident occurred. Sheriff’s Office officials said the altercation began around 9 a.m., when Strate’s boyfriend, who was driving, and 54-year-old Barry West, operating a silver Dodge truck, began to tailgate and brake-check each other. While the initial cause of the confrontation remains unclear, it escalated when West pulled a firearm and opened fire from inside his vehicle.
Strate, seated in the front passenger seat, was struck by gunfire. No other injuries were reported from the incident. West was arrested on Sunday and booked into the Tangipahoa Parish Jail on four counts of attempted second-degree murder, one count of illegal use of a weapon, and obstruction of justice. Following Strate’s death, the attempted murder charges were upgraded to second-degree murder, according to Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue, who noted that authorities would elevate charges in response to fatalities resulting from the incident.
Community members have expressed shock and sadness at the tragic event. Family friend Katie Cancienne shared that the shooting left Strate’s loved ones devastated, though they are grateful her newborn daughter survived. “She was a bright, loving young woman, and it’s heartbreaking that her life was cut short in such a senseless act,” Cancienne said.
Rodrigue indicated that the Sheriff’s Office is investigating whether other road rage incidents may have occurred along Hoover Road. “We have had three or four people provide information about possible previous confrontations,” she said. “Detectives will follow up on all leads as part of the ongoing investigation.”
This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of aggressive driving and road rage, as well as the vulnerability of innocent victims caught in violent altercations. Authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant, exercise caution on the roads, and report any suspicious or dangerous driving behaviors.
“Our hearts go out to the family, friends, and community members affected by this horrific act,” Rodrigue said. “We are committed to ensuring justice for Katelynn and her family while preventing further tragedies on our roadways.”
The investigation into the Ponchatoula shooting remains active, and the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office continues to seek any additional information from the public that may assist in building a comprehensive case against the suspect.
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