A 17-year-old, who was seven months pregnant, is on life support after she was shot in what authorities are calling a road rage incident. Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Gerald Sticker says the victim was in a vehicle with three other passengers in the Ponchatoula area and that vehicle was tailgating and brake-checking with another vehicle driven by 54-year-old Barry West. Sticker says West got upset and shot at the other vehicle, striking the 17-year-old in the head.
“It’s infuriating to me that, like I said, it’s a rural road, it’s a Sunday morning. It’s not like it was a traffic jam. Just a total disregard for public safety and human life,” Sticker said.
Stricker says the victim was rushed to the hospital, where she gave birth to her child.
“They did, as I understand it, an emergency C-section on her and the baby is doing well as can be. I think it is in NICU as we speak,” Sticker said.
But the mother is on life support, while West is in the Tangipahoa Parish Jail on four counts of attempted second-degree murder. Those charges could be upgraded if the victim passes away. She’s currently on life support. Sticker says the investigation is ongoing.
“It’s still unclear to what extent, or who cut who off, or who was tailgating who,” Sticker said.
Sticker calls it a senseless tragedy.
