Pregnant woman shot to death in Bradenton home invasion

Reported by: Victoria Benchimol
Email: vbenchimol@abcactionnews.com
Contributor: Elizabeth Dinh
Last Update: 7/13/2009 8:12 pm

	Pregnant woman shot to death in Bradenton home invasion
	Pregnant woman killed in Manatee County

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BRADENTON, FL -- Crystal Youngblood was three months away from giving birth to her first child, but didn't live to experience it.

Her best friend, Cassie Betancourt, showed ABC Action News a picture of Crystal from her digital camera. In the photo, the 19-year-old blonde was smiling - and her pregnancy was showing.

Betancourt tearfully told us Crystal had already picked out a name for her unborn girl: Lariah Faith. "Everyday she went shopping for the baby," Betancourt said. "It was an adventure, it was exciting, you know. She smiled everyday."

Manatee County Sheriff's officials say 2 or 3 unknown black male suspects kicked in the front door of her apartment on 5th Street East around 1:20 a.m. The suspects began shooting.

Deputies say Johnson was shot as she came out of her bedroom to see what was going on. She was transported to Manatee Memorial Hospital where she died.
Doctors delivered and transported little Lariah Faith to All Children's Hospital where she died a few hours later.

Johnson's mother, sister and boyfriend where in the apartment when the shooting occurred.

Deputies say Johnson's boyfriend, 22 year-old Lawrence "LT" Funsch returned fire and detectives believe that one of the suspects was shot.

Betancourt said Crystal and LT had "Been together five, almost six years. This was all they had wanted was a baby. Now LT has neither one of them because somebody was selfish."

Neighbor Shantee Goodson has fond memories of the many "mommy" conversations she had with Crystal. "She was friendly," Goodson said. "We used to match each other's sonograms, look at the size of our babies. She was a real good person."

A few hours after the incident, a man suffering from a gunshot wound showed up at Manatee Memorial Hospital. That person has been identified as 28-year-old Everrick Houston. He is in critical condition but expected to live.

No arrests have been made and the investigation is continuing. Detectives say the motive is unclear but they do not believe the case is a random act.

Meanwhile, Crystal's loved ones - including an unidentified woman who was so overwhelmed at the crime scene, an ambulance came to treat her - can't understand why this happened. "'Cause now they don't have Crystal or a baby," Betancourt said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff's office at 941-747-3011 ext 2159 or call Crimestoppers at 866-634-TIPS.

Loved ones told ABC Action News a candlelight vigil in honor of Crystal and Lariah will be at 8pm Monday at the Samoset Teen Club, at 3720 18th St E., in Bradenton.

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