Teen charged in 2025 West Broadway shooting death of pregnant Louisville woman Jermia Offutt
Second suspect charged months after fatal Chickasaw-area shooting
Louisville Metro Police have charged a 16-year-old boy in connection with the Aug. 13, 2025, fatal shooting of Jermia Offutt, a 28-year-old woman who was pregnant at the time of her death. Police said the shooting occurred at a business in the 4100 block of West Broadway, in west Louisville’s Chickasaw area.
The teen, whose identity has not been released because he is a juvenile, faces charges of murder (complicity), fetal homicide (complicity), first-degree wanton endangerment, and tampering with physical evidence. The arrest adds to a case that investigators have described as stemming from gunfire during a confrontation involving multiple people, with Offutt characterized as a bystander.
What investigators have said about the shooting
Offutt was shot during an altercation between two groups, police said, and was taken to UofL Hospital where she later died. Relatives previously stated she was about four months pregnant and had three young children. Family members have said the children were with her when the shooting occurred.
The charges against the teen are structured around alleged involvement in the incident rather than an allegation that he alone fired the fatal shot, reflecting Kentucky’s complicity framework that can apply when prosecutors believe a defendant aided or participated in conduct that led to the death.
Earlier indictment against an adult defendant
The juvenile case follows the earlier charging and indictment of Deonize Lee Jr., a Louisville man who has been indicted in connection with Offutt’s death and the death of her unborn child. Court filings and prior reporting on the indictment describe counts that include murder (complicity), first-degree fetal homicide (complicity), criminal attempt to murder, tampering with physical evidence, and multiple counts of wanton endangerment.
Lee has also faced charges in other homicide investigations, and had been held at Louisville Metro Corrections during the progression of the Offutt case.
Key verified details
Date of shooting: Aug. 13, 2025.
Location: a business in the 4100 block of West Broadway, west Louisville.
Victim: Jermia Offutt, 28, who was pregnant at the time.
New defendant: a 16-year-old charged on Jan. 20, 2026, with complicity-related homicide counts and additional felony charges.
An indictment and criminal charges are allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
What comes next
The juvenile case will proceed through the court system under the rules governing youth defendants, which can limit the public release of identifying information and certain case records. The adult prosecution related to the same shooting continues separately, with the overall investigation centered on accountability for gunfire that investigators say struck Offutt while she was not involved in the underlying dispute.
Police have continued to encourage anyone with information about the West Broadway shooting to contact local authorities through established tip channels.