A serene family drive on a Louisiana highway turned into an unimaginable nightmare this week, culminating in a fatal shooting that has shocked the local community.
37-year-old Katelynn Strate was travelling with her two young children on Interstate 12 near Baton Rouge when a routine journey was shattered by a devastating act of violence. According to the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office, a heated exchange between motorists escalated with terrifying speed.
The Sheriff's office reported that the suspect, driving a dark-coloured pick-up truck, allegedly fired multiple shots into Strate's vehicle. Stricken, she managed to pull her car to the side of the road but succumbed to her injuries at the scene. Her children, aged just six and one, were physically unharmed but witnessed the entire traumatic event.
"This is a horrific tragedy," said Sheriff Bobby Webre. "A mother lost her life, and two children are now without their mother, all due to a senseless act of violence on our roadways."
Law enforcement has launched a major manhunt for the gunman, who fled the scene. The incident serves as a chilling reminder of the potentially deadly consequences of road rage. Detectives are urging any witnesses or individuals with dashcam footage to come forward to assist in the investigation.
