Authorities in Louisiana reported that Karrington Smith, a pregnant 17-year-old, was killed by a bullet that entered the car seat and struck her in the back on Saturday while she was riding in the passenger seat.
According to an incident report that Inside Edition Digital was able to get, the weapon that discharged was being “played with” by a man in the backseat, Chad Blackard, 23.
According to the East Baton Rouge Sheriff Office, “the medical professionals discovered that the victim was about… [25] weeks pregnant while performing life-saving procedures.” At the hospital, the victim and her fetus were both declared dead.
Smith allegedly tried to convince authorities that she fired the gun before she died to her wounds, according to The Advocate. However, authorities eventually discovered that Blackard was the one who had fired the gun.
According to the incident report, Blackard had allegedly been boasting about “how his gun exceeds the gun owned by” someone else in the car.
Blackard reportedly admitted to authorities that “he may have mistakenly withdrawn a part of the gun from the holster and squeezed the trigger when he was readjusting it,” according to the report.
The gunshot, according to Blackard’s mother, was an accident.
The gunshot, according to Blackard’s mother, was an accident. “A horrific accident occurred. A wonderful young man, my son is. never had a problem, “posted something on Facebook. “My son was weeping, trying to save her, and he was crying too, saying me it was an accident and he didn’t mean to do it.”
According to a Facebook post, Smith, who occasionally went by the name Jade, worked as a junior fireman for the Pine Grove Volunteer Fire Department.
Early in December, she posted on Facebook that she was expecting, along with a cute picture of her and her partner wearing a onesie that said “June 2022” and a sonogram. Dallas was going to be the baby’s name.
Smith’s family is currently using a GoFundMe page to raise money for her funeral costs.
The page’s creator stated that “Jade always brought brightness into any circumstance and I have never seen her without a smile on her face.”
a donor who identified herself as Smith’s aunt said, “Jade Smith and baby Dallas, rest in peace. Angels are awaiting you. Let them know that we miss each and every one of them as you fly high with the other side of the family. Kiss them for me.”
On suspicion of negligent homicide, third-degree feticide, and illegal use of a firearm, Blackard is now being detained in a jail. His court date has not yet been scheduled.