An Indianapolis church is mourning the loss of a young, pregnant pastor's wife who was shot in the head during a robbery at her home on Tuesday morning.
Marion County Deputy Coroner Alfie Ballew told
The Indianapolis Star Wednesday that the victim, Amanda Blackburn, had not yet been pronounced dead, but that she was on a ventilator and her death was imminent.
Her family and church, however, posted on Facebook Wednesday that she had died of her wounds, and asked for the public's prayers.
"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," the 28-year-old's husband, Pastor Davey Blackburn, said in a statement posted on the website of
The Resonate Church, an independent church where he and his wife ministered.
"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. I rest in the truth of Romans 8:28 that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose."
The couple are the parents of a toddler, and recently announced to their friends and family that
Amanda was 12 weeks pregnant.
She was shot at around 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday inside her home, and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department confirmed she was shot during a robbery, but no details on a possible suspect have been released.
A neighbor, Reginald Townsel, told The Star that Amanda Blackburn was always smiling, and was often seen in her yard or in their garage, where she spent many hours refinishing old furniture. Another neighbor described the couple as friendly, and said she often delivered cookies to her neighbors.
"I'm hurt," Townsel said. "This isn't that type of neighborhood. Those people didn't deserve that."
The couple had recently spoken at their church about their relationship, and two weeks ago took a romantic getaway to Chicago, according to a video posted online.
A burglary was also reported on a home in the same block about three hours before Blackburn was found, but investigators haven't determined that the two incidents are related.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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