Georgia Crime News: Man kills pregnant mother days before giving birth, cops arrest suspect

A homicide case emerged in Georgia on Wednesday (June 17, 2026), where a family is mourning the tragic loss of a pregnant mother of two who was fatally shot while asleep in her home, leading to the arrest of a suspect in connection with the killing. The incident, which occurred at a residence on Peppertree Circle in Decatur, came to light after officers from the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the U.S. Marshals Service, responded to a report of the shooting and arrested a suspect linked to the fatal incident, according to the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office.

The victim was identified as 23-year-old Shakiya Pridgen and her unborn child, who were found earlier that day at a residence on Peppertree Circle in Decatur. Officers found Pridgen suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office tells PEOPLE. Pridgen and her unborn child were pronounced dead after being taken to the hospital.





Authorities later arrested 26-year-old Devin Anthony in nearby Riverdale on multiple charges, including murder, in connection with the fatal shooting. According to investigators, they believe the shots were fired into the home from the outside. Pridgen’s family alleged that Anthony was her ex-boyfriend and the father of her unborn child, adding that he knew the location of her bed and was aware that she slept there with her two children, aged 1 and 3, according to news platform 11 Alive.

Police could not confirm or deny the family’s claims when contacted by PEOPLE but said no one else was injured in the shooting. PEOPLE, citing WSB-TV, reported that the victim’s mother, Verdina Scott, said Pridgen had recently moved into her first apartment on her own and hoped to get married and settle down.

According to 11 Alive, the family had held a baby shower for Pridgen just last weekend. Scott said she was only days away from giving birth to a baby boy she planned to name Kyren. "I want the world to know that somebody took a blessing, a blessing, from all of us, and we will get justice," the grieving mother told the outlet. "This will not be the last time you hear from us. We will get justice for you, Shakiya, and Kyren."