WBRZ - Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE - Police filed for an arrest warrant this afternoon, after they said the husband of a pregnant whoman shot her during an argument earlier today.

Cpl. L'Jean McKneely said the shooting happened at 12:40 p.m. on 2025 Bay Street, and that a 26-year-old male shot a 23-year-old female in the back and arm with a handgun.

The victim's mother identified her as Kayla Atkins. Police filed an arrest warrant for her husband, Frank Atkins, later this afternoon.

According to an affidavit filed with the warrant, the victim was sitting in a vehicle driven by a friend when Atkins shot her. The friend drove her to a safe location and called police. Investigators took the friend to the Violent Crimes Unit where the affidavit says she identified Atkins as the shooter from a photo lineup.

Atkins is in critical condition at a local hospital.

Police are trying to locate Atkins at this time. Jail records show he was released from the East Baton Rouge Parish jail yesterday after being arrested Sunday for an aggravated battery charge.

Court records also showed the victim filed a restraining order against Atkins yesterday, and previously filed a restraining order against him back in May. She dropped that restraining order the day after filing it.

News 2 will have more on this story as it develops.