Man accidentally shoots pregnant teen to death in car while "playing with" handgun in Louisiana

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A suspect has been arrested after accidentally shooting and killing a pregnant 17-year-old inside of a moving car, sheriff's officials in Baton Rouge, Louisiana said. WAFB-TV reports Chad Blackard, 23, was booked in connection to the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Karrington Smith, according to Casey Hicks, a spokeswoman with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office. Blackard faces several charges, including negligent homicide, third-degree feticide and illegal use of weapons.

Blackard, who was sitting behind Smith in a moving car on Saturday, fired a single round from his semi-automatic handgun, hitting Smith in the back, authorities said. Deputies said Blackard was allegedly "playing with the handgun" when it discharged, WAFB reported. Blackard bragged that his gun "outperforms" a gun owned by another passenger before it discharged.

Authorities said Smith, who was 25 weeks pregnant, was taken to a local hospital where she and her unborn child later died.

The incident marks the second time this week that a woman was killed inside a car by accidental gunfire. Police in suburban Chicago said a 3-year-old boy accidentally shot his mother to death as the family was sitting in their car in a supermarket parking lot on Saturday.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/man-accidentally-shoots-pregnant-teen-to-death-in-car-while-playing-with-handgun-in-louisiana/?intcid=CNI-00-10aaa3b

Chad Blackard