A suspect in the killing of a pregnant woman who was found shot in her car in Troup County on Tuesday afternoon has been arrested in North Carolina, authorities said.

The suspect’s name was not released by the sheriff’s office, but the arrest was confirmed Thursday evening. A news conference is set for Friday morning to discuss the arrest.

Deputies and Georgia State Patrol troopers were called to Ga. 18 near East Drummond Road around 12:50 p.m. Tuesday regarding a single-car crash, Troup sheriff’s office spokesman Sgt. Stewart Smith said. Authorities found Akeila Ware, 29, of LaGrange, shot and unresponsive inside a Honda Accord, GSP spokeswoman Franka Young confirmed.

Ware was extricated from the car and taken to a Columbus-area hospital in critical condition. She and her unborn child were pronounced dead there, Smith said.

The crash stemmed from a shooting involving a person in another vehicle, Young said Thursday. Authorities believe shots were fired near the intersection of Ga. 18 and Whitesville Road, Smith said. The second vehicle was thought to be a silver Nissan with possible front-end damage.

“It does appear to be a targeted crime at this point, not a random road rage,” Smith told Channel 2 Action News.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Troup County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division at 706-883-1616. Tipsters can remain anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477, texting information to 274637 or visiting the Crime Stoppers website.

— Please return to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.

About the Author

Keep Reading

If the Senate's version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passes, the 30% federal tax credits offered for clean energy installations — such as these solar panels being installed atop an Ellenwood home in 2022 — would be sunset by the end of 2025. (Jason Getz/AJC 2022)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Featured

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. (center) is flanked by GOP whip Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo. (left) and Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, as Thune speak to reporters at the Capitol in Washington on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Earlier Tuesday, the Senate passed the budget reconciliation package of President Donald Trump's signature bill of big tax breaks and spending cuts. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

Credit: AP