Indianapolis pastor's pregnant wife dies following shooting
INDIANAPOLIS -- Amanda Blackburn, a pregnant pastor's wife shot in her home Tuesday morning during an apparent robbery, was removed from a ventilator Thursday and has died, officials said.
The Marion County Coroner's office late Thursday confirmed Blackburn, 28, died of a gunshot wound to the head and ruled her death a homicide. Police have so far revealed few details about the attack, but will hold a Friday morning press conference to discuss the case.
The church founder and young mother was critically injured in the shooting around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Her imminent death spurred a surge of sympathy and prayers on social media Tuesday and Wednesday as friends, family members and strangers mourned with public posts.
Blackburn and her husband Davey Blackburn moved to Indianapolis in 2012 from South Carolina to start the independent Resonate Church on the city's north side. They have a toddler son, Weston.
The Christian family was growing, as the couple had just announced Amanda Blackburn was 12 weeks pregnant with her second child.
"My wife was such a beautiful, gracious, loving woman of God. I have not only lost my ministry partner and support but also my very best friend," Davey Blackburn said in a statement Wednesday. "There is no way to prepare yourself for circumstances like these. As deeply as I am hurting I am hopeful and confident that good things will come of this."
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police detectives are investigating the shooting as a robbery, but no information about the suspect has been released to the public.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Sgt. Kendale Adams said detectives are "following up on several leads."
Contributing: Michael Anthony Adams and Vic Ryckaert. Follow Madeline Buckley on Twitter:@Mabuckley88