INDIANAPOLIS — An Indiana pastor’s wife who died last week after being declared brain dead when she was shot in the head during a home invasion was pregnant with a girl, the church revealed this weekend.
“During a home invasion on November 10, 2015, Amanda suffered a gunshot wound and was left critically injured,” Resonate Church Indianapolis wrote on a page meant to honor pastor’s wife Amanda Blackburn. “The next day Amanda and her unborn daughter, Everette ‘Evie’ Grace Blackburn, passed away as a result of her injuries.”
As previously reported, Blackburn’s husband David started the church three years ago to “see a contagious movement of God spread throughout Indianapolis.” The couple gave birth to a baby boy last year named Weston, and recently learned that they were expecting their second child.
But last Tuesday, when David Blackburn came home from the gym, he found his wife, 28, lying unconscious on the floor with a gunshot wound to the head. She was rushed to the hospital, but was declared brain dead. On Wednesday, Blackburn was removed from life support, and both she and 12-week-old baby Evie died.
Over two thousand attended a service that was held on Sunday to honor Blackburn’s life. Four congregations coordinated the remembrance of the pastor’s wife, and the service was led by South Carolina’s Perry Noble of NewSpring Church.
“If I could be like Amanda, I’d want to just live my life in such a way that leaves a legacy that the way her life has obviously left,” one member of Resonate Church stated.
Investigators stated following the attack that they believed Blackburn was shot during a home invasion that was likely an attempted robbery. There have been recent burglaries in the area, including a break-in not far from the Blackburn’s home where electronics and other valuables were stolen.
On Monday, police released two surveillance photos that show a person of interest in connection with the attack. The man, believed to be between five foot four and five foot nine, was wearing light pants and a two-toned hoodie.
Crimestoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of Blackburn’s killer. Prosecutors will not be seeking charges for baby Evie’s death as Indiana state law only considers the killing of “a fetus that has attained viability” to be murder, voluntary manslaughter or involuntary manslaughter.
“Amanda made it her life’s calling to love and serve everyone she knew. Even more, she has made it her life’s mission to see as many people as possible come to know Jesus as their personal Savior,” the church wrote on Blackburn’s memorial page. “In her death and legacy, we truly believe that even more people will come to a saving faith in Christ.”
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