S10:E10: The Senseless Murder of Shakiya Pridgen (23) "Due Any Day"

Decatur, Georgia — 23-year-old Shakiya Pridgen was a young mother preparing for a new chapter — raising her two children, and welcoming her unborn son, while building a life that should have been full of hope and promise. 

But in the early morning hours of June 16, 2026, that future was violently taken. 

This episode looks at the heartbreaking murder of Shakiya Pridgen, the life she was trying to create, and the devastating ripple effect left behind for her family, her children, and a community searching for answers.

Listen to Season 10: Episode 10: "Due Any Day" 

Rest in Peace - Shakiya and Baby Kyrin 🕊️🙏

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Transcript

SPEAKER_08 0:00

This podcast contains graphic details which may be disturbing to some listeners, but some discretion is advised. I'm Chantel B, and welcome back to the show. There are some stories that hurt before you even know the details. Stories where the timeline alone feels cruel. The morning Shekiaya Pridge was killed. America woke up to a familiar tragedy. One it has seen far too many times. One that it has never truly confronted. A young black woman nine months pregnant shot through her bedroom window while her two young children slept beside her. Shekaya was a mother. She was a daughter of a woman who should have been packing a hospital bag, preparing for the birth of her unborn son, not fighting for her last breath. Two lives tragically cut short. Shekaya's murder was not random. It was a part of a pattern. A deadly, predictable pattern that black women have been trapped in for generations. The killing of a woman because they are simply women. This is domestic violence in America. A crisis that disproportionately claims the lives of black women every single day. Shekiah's story sits at the intersection of all three. She was a black woman, she was nine months pregnant, and she was killed by an intimate partner. When we look at those statistics, they're heartbreaking. They are staggering. In the United States, black women are three times more likely to be murdered than white women. They are more likely to be murdered by someone they know, and more likely to be killed with a firearm. And even more likely to be pregnant when the violence escalates. Pregnancy, a time that should be protected and celebrated, becomes a period of heightened danger. When a woman is pregnant, her life is most at risk when she is carrying new life. But what makes this story so troubling and heartbreaking is that Shekiaya's killer knew exactly where she slept. He knew her children were beside her. He knew that she was just days away from giving birth. This is not just murder. This is targeted violence. This is femicide. This is feticide. This is domestic terror in America. Shekiah's murder exposes the crap in our legal system. Probation failures, lenient laws for first-time offenders, but also inadequate protection for victims of domestic violence. We are talking about a justice system that repeatedly releases violent men back into the homes of the women that they have harmed. But it also exposes how society minimizes threats against black women, how their fears are often dismissed, how their pleas for safety are too often ignored. These are not isolated tragedies. They are patterns, they are warnings, they are indictments of a society that has not valued black women's safety, their humanity or autonomy. Black women are being killed and America is not protecting them. We acknowledge the crisis of feticide and femicide that steals black women's futures. But before we get into the heartbreaking details of the case, we must first honor Shekaya's life. Shekya, my angel Pridgin, was born on March 2nd, 2003. She was a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, and she had recently taken an important step towards her independence by moving into her first apartment in the Atlanta area. Now this was a new chapter in her life, one she hoped would lead to a brighter future for herself and her two young children. Shekaya had goals of attending nursing school so she could adequately support herself and her children. She also wanted to get married and to eventually settle down while continuing to build the life that she dreamed of. Those who knew Shekaya described her as loving, caring, a devoted mother to her children. Her two babies were the center of her world, and everything she did reflected how much they meant to her. Her life revolved around making sure her children were safe, happy, and provided for. Like many mothers, Shekiah carried responsibilities that often went unnoticed. She worried about their future, their well-being, and the type of life they would have as they grew up. And her responsibilities, she understood, were all her own. Her greatest priority was providing them with love, care, and stability. Her two children were babies themselves, just one and three years old. Shakaya was pregnant with a baby boy and was only days away from giving birth. For the people who knew her best, she was always smiling. And most people said it seemed like she never had a bad day. But her mother described her as someone who was doing everything a mother was supposed to do. Her mother wasn't too far living in the same neighborhood as Shekayah so that she could continue to provide adequate support for Shekayah and the children. She was a young woman stepping into independence while also carrying the weight of motherhood. This is a lot for any young woman, but still, Shekaya was doing it. She was showing up, she was mothering, she was building a home, she was creating a new chapter in her life, and she looked far beyond her immediate circumstances, and that is what makes this so painful. Because Shakaya was not a woman whose life was just winding down, her life was just getting started. 23 is still young enough to be figuring things out and learning who you are, to still make mistakes, grow, dream, but also to become more of yourself with every passing year. She seemed to be standing right in that space between youth and motherhood. She had a life that was active, moving, changing, and expanding. And from the way her parents spoke about her, Shekaya was the kind of person whose presence mattered, the kind of person whose kindness was remembered, the kind of person whose heart stood out, who did for other people without even expecting anything in return. For Shekayah, this pregnancy represented a new beginning. Like many expected mothers, she spent time imagining what life would look like once her son was born. That anticipation of bringing a new child into the world brought such an excitement, not only to Shekaya, but also to her family. To celebrate the upcoming birth, Shekaya's family held a baby shower in her honor, celebrating the baby boy. She was just days away from delivering. Let's take a listen. Like many relationships, those specific difficulties would remain behind closed doors. What began as just small disagreements and tension had reportedly become more serious over time. Allegations of domestic violence, control, and extreme anger. Whatever was happening between them placed a heavy strain on the relationship. But unfortunately, no one could have predicted how things would eventually end. On the morning of June 16th, 2026, which should have been an ordinary day, turned into a heartbreaking tragedy. At approximately 5 45 a.m., multiple gunshots shattered the bedroom window where Shekiah Prident slept with her two small children. The sound of the gunfire startled residents within the Peppertree apartment complex, prompting several neighbors to immediately call 911. Minutes later, DeCalb County police officers responded to the scene shortly after those 911 calls were received. When they arrived, they found 23-year-old at Shakaya Pridgin inside her apartment, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The EMTs rushed her to a nearby hospital in an effort to save her life. Despite those efforts, tragically, Shekaya was pronounced dead. Her unborn son Chiron, whom she was only days away from delivering, he also did not survive. What investigators later determined was that there were approximately eleven rounds that had been fired into Shekayah's bedroom window while she was asleep. Shekaya was not alone. Sleeping beside her were her one-year-old son and her three-year-old daughter. Despite the barrage of gunfire that tore through that bedroom, both the children were unharmed. As first responders worked inside that apartment, Shekaya's mother, Verdina Scott, she experienced every parent's worst nightmare. She actually heard the sounds of gunshots, and she immediately ran towards her daughter's apartment. But when she got inside, she found Shakaya bleeding and unresponsive. Without a moment of hesitation, Verdina began performing CPR on her daughter as she desperately waited for police and paramedics to arrive, hoping that there was still a chance to save both her daughter and her unborn grandson. In just a matter of minutes, the excitement and anticipation that surrounded Shekiah's pregnancy were replaced by unimaginable grief. The young mother who had been preparing to welcome her baby boy was gone, and so was the son she had been so eagerly waiting to meet. But as investigators began processing the scene and searching for answers, Shekiah's family was left trying to understand how a morning that began with the sound of gunfire ended in such a tragic loss. So as investigators began working to identify the person responsible for the shooting, they gathered information from those closest to Shekiah. According to family members, they did not believe that the shooting was random, but they told investigators that it appeared to be targeted and deliberate. Based on the circumstances of the shooting, they believed the person responsible knew Shekayah's routine and was familiar with the layout of her bedroom. Investigators also examined the manner in which the shooting was carried out. There were approximately eleven rounds that had been fired through Shekaya's bedroom window while she was asleep. The location of the gunfire, but also the timing of the attack, suggested the shooter had specifically targeted the bedroom rather than just acting on impulse. As detectives processed the crime scene and collected evidence, they continued tirelessly working to determine who was responsible. The Cow County detectives moved quickly during the investigation. Working alongside the US Marshal Service, authorities developed a suspect and they located a twenty-six-year-old Devin Anthony at a residence in Riverdale. He was taken into custody without incident as investigators continued building their case. During the investigation, the family members identified Devin Anthony. He was Shekayah's ex-boyfriend and the father of her unborn son, Kyron. Now that information became an important piece to this investigation as detectives worked to understand the circumstances leading up to the shooting. With Devin Anthony now in custody, investigators continued gathering evidence as they sought to determine what exactly happened in the hours before Shekiah and her unborn child were killed. As the investigation continued, what detectives uncovered was more information regarding Devin Anthony's background. Court records revealed that Anthony had a documented history of violence and previous legal troubles. This added another layer to the investigation as authorities examined his past. Back in September of 2021, Devin Anthony was indicted by a Fulton County grand jury on a murder charge in connection to a fatal shooting. Now in this case, Anthony was accused of the fatal shooting of 58-year-old Ronald Garner. Now the case was later resolved through a negotiated plea deal under Georgia's First Offender Act. Now part of this plea deal was that the original murder charge was reduced to voluntary manslaughter. Following the plea agreement, Devin Anthony was sentenced to 20 years with 11 months served, and the remaining 19 years were to be served on probation. Now the sentence allowed him to avoid a felony conviction if he successfully completed the terms of the first offender act. Some of those terms were Devin Anthony was ordered to take anger management classes. He was prohibited from ever owning or possessing a firearm. The third stipulation was that he had to remain drug free. Court records also show that by the end of 2024, his probation was later revoked back in February after he failed a drug test. As investigators continued building their case, Devin Anthony's criminal history became part of the broader investigation. The court records documenting his previous conviction, probation, and probation violation provided additional background as detectives worked to establish the events leading up to the fatal shooting. Let's take a listen.

SPEAKER_02 20:07

New developments now. And Tom, you found out new information about the suspect's background, including a past arrest and conviction for another killing.

SPEAKER_10 20:29

Yeah, George, more on that in a moment, but clearly this was a targeted shooting. Take a look at all the bullet holes in this bedroom window. We counted at least 10 shots. Police say the man under arrest fired a flurry of shots through this window early yesterday morning, striking this pregnant mom and her unborn child. They later died. Miraculously, two of her other children who were sleeping beside her weren't hurt.

SPEAKER_06 20:55

She was doing everything a mother was supposed to do, and we will get justice. You just don't know how strong this family is together. She was a loving, sweet, Kelly person with a good heart.

SPEAKER_10 21:08

And somebody took the that's somebody, police say, is Devin Anthony, the 26-year-old arrested Monday night, made his first court appearance, is charged to the shooting deaths of 23-year-old Shekiah Pridgent and her unborn son. The victim's mother tells us Anthony was an ex-boyfriend of her daughter and the father of her now deceased unborn child.

SPEAKER_06 21:33

I want the world to know that somebody took a blessing. A blessing from all of us.

SPEAKER_10 22:00

Deal under George's First Offender Act, which reduced the murder charge to manslaughter. A judge sentenced him to 20 years, 11 months to serve, and the balance of 19 years on probation. Shekaya's family spent the day making funeral arrangements for her and her unborn child. They say Anthony should never have been released given his violent criminal history.

SPEAKER_06 22:23

He got a second chance. Shekaya doesn't get a second chance. And he shouldn't be allowed a third to do this to somebody else. He shouldn't have never been let out. I don't understand. If you murder somebody, you just get probation.

SPEAKER_10 22:37

We reached out to the Fulton County D Day's office for a comment on his prior conviction, but have not yet heard back. A GoFundMe has been set up to help this family with funeral arrangements. You can find out how to donate at WSBTV.com. Live in DeCapac County, Tom Regan, Channel 2 Action News.

SPEAKER_02 22:53

Listening to that history now that family dealing with so much already. Tom Regan, thank you.

SPEAKER_08 22:57

Following his arrest, 26-year-old Devin Anthony made his first court appearance on June 17, 2026, just one day after he was taken into custody by U.S. marshals. During the hearing, Devin Anthony appeared before a judge and was formally read the criminal charges against him. The hearing marked the beginning of what is expected to be a lengthy legal process. During this hearing, Devin Anthony was denied bond. He will remain behind bars until this case comes to trial. The prosecutors charged Devin Anthony with malice murder, feticide, and aggravated assault with the intent to murder. Following the hearing, he was transported to the DeKalb County Jail, where he continues to be held while prosecutors continue preparing their case against him. What prosecutors allege was that the shooting was not believed to be just a random act. They have maintained that the evidence points to a targeted and premeditated act. Shekai's family has also consistently stated that they believe that the shooting was deliberate. They describe this as an act of domestic violence rather than a random act. The charges filed against Anthony reflect the allegations that investigators believe have been supported by the evidence that was collected during the investigation. The legal process will ultimately determine the outcome of those charges. But in the meantime, Shakaya's family sat front and center in that courtroom, coming face to face with the man they had once welcomed into their home. Let's take a listen.

SPEAKER_01 25:40

Anthony is facing a number of charges, including malice murder and feticide for the shooting death of Pridgin and her unborn son Chiron, who is due to be born next week. Her family tells us Pridgin and Chiron were shot through an apartment window while sleeping in bed next to Pridgin's other young children early Tuesday morning. And Atlanta News First has discovered this is not Anthony's first arrest. Back in March of 2021, Atlanta police say Anthony killed 58-year-old Ronald Barner. He was arrested three months later in June, then negotiated a plea deal in November of 2024. He only served 11 months of a 20-year sentence. The other 19 years and one month became probation. Anthony was released in October of 2025. Court records show Anthony Then tested positive for THC last December, which violated probation and he was arrested, then was released again two months later in February of this year. Anthony then was arrested again on Tuesday for Pridgin's murder. Her family tells me they will get justice for Shekayah and Chiron.

SPEAKER_06 26:47

You just don't know how much we have lost.

SPEAKER_01 26:51

This will not be the last time you hear from us. Her family tells me they will be at every court hearing until they see this through. Reporting live from DeCab County, I'm Tracy A. McPeer, Atlanta News First.

SPEAKER_08 27:03

The most shocking part of this case was not only the murder itself, but it was Devin Anthony's mother who spoke to reporters and had an explanation for her son's behavior. She allegedly said, quote, he was angry, he had issues, he was going through a phase. That was all that she had to say. In the days following the tragic death of Shekiaya Pridgin and her unborn son, her family was forced to face an unimaginable reality. Instead of preparing to welcome a baby boy into their family, they were now making funeral arrangements. To help ease the financial burden, the family launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist with funeral expenses during an incredibly difficult time. The community also came together to honor Shekiah's life, and there was a candlelight visual held in DeKalb County at the same location where the tragedy struck. Family members, friends, and members of the community gathered to remember the young mother and the unborn son she never had the chance to hold. It was a time for loved ones to grieve together, to reflect on her life and offer support to those left behind her two children. The joint funeral services for Shekayah and Kyron were held on June 27, 2026. Family and friends came together once again to say their final goodbyes, remembering Shekiah for the loving mother, daughter, and friend who they knew her to be, while also mourning the loss of a baby who didn't get a chance to take his first breath. The case drew widespread attention throughout the Atlanta area, with many expressing outrage over the killing of a pregnant woman who was only days away from giving birth. Community members and domestic violence advocates pointed to the tragedy as another heartbreaking reminder of the ongoing issues of intimate partner violence, particularly violence against pregnant women. Many advocates call for greater awareness and stronger efforts to protect victims before violence turns deadly. Shekya's murder has left a lasting impact on everyone who knew and loved her. Her family has continued to honor her memory by sharing stories of her kindness, her love for her children, and the excitement she felt welcoming a third child into the world. Her family also continued to call for justice, hoping the legal process will hold Devin Anthony responsible for taking her life. Let's take a listen.

SPEAKER_00 30:32

Eleven Lives Angelina Salcito sat down with her family. She is uh at the DeCab County jail where the man accused of taking the young mother's life remains behind bars.

SPEAKER_04 30:42

Behind me is the jail where Devin Anthony is being held. And tonight, Shekiah Pridgeon's family tells me that they don't understand how he was out on the streets in the first place. They say a lot that they just learned about this week, Georgia's first offender act allowed a man who was charged in a previous homicide case to be out on the streets. Tonight they shared their grief, their frustration, and their demand for change.

SPEAKER_06 31:17

23 years old. She had a 20-go son. She had a three-go daughter. They both were laying in the bed with her when this happened.

SPEAKER_04 31:28

Shekiah Pridgeon's family is grieving. The 23-year-old mother of two was 40 weeks pregnant when investigators say she was shot and killed inside her DeCav County apartment. I wish I could turn back. Verdina Scott rushed to her daughter's apartment after hearing gunshots from her own home and performed CPR in a desperate attempt to save her life. Investigators say 26-year-old Devin Anthony fired 11 shots through Pridgin's bedroom window, hitting her once in the stomach and twice in the shoulder. Now, as the family tries to process what happened early Tuesday morning, they're also asking how the man accused of killing Shekaya and his own unborn son was free in the first place.

SPEAKER_06 32:34

How do you murder twice? Somebody left the bottom. The system failed us.

SPEAKER_04 32:44

The family says their focus now is honoring Shekaya's memory of raising the two children she leaves behind. You won't get away with this. You won't get away with this. Justice McCarry.

SPEAKER_00 32:57

Angelina Salcito, 11 Alive News. Family members say the funeral for Pridgin and Baby Kyron is scheduled for next Friday. Tonight they are raising money to help cover those costs and support her two children. We have posted a link to that fundraiser online on our website, 11alive.com.

SPEAKER_08 33:15

Shekya Pridgin was a 23-year-old mother to a one-year-old son and a three-year-old daughter. Shekaya was also nine months pregnant at the time of her murder and was due to have her son Kyron any day. What's heartbreaking is not only the murder itself. When you listen to the joy and happiness in the room from Shekaya's baby shower, the love, the support system she had, the cuteness of the younger siblings helping to pick the names of their baby brother. They were all so anxious. Then reality hit you. And in that sudden moment, all of that joy was taken away and replaced by grief. Not just grief for Shekayah's life, not just grief for baby Kyron, who didn't even get the opportunity to take his first breath. You have two small children, one and three years old, who will barely remember that very moment. Shekiah was at the very edge of bringing new life into this world. Her body had done most of the hard work, carried her son through every stage, every heartbeat, every kick, every uncomfortable night. She was not just preparing to give birth, she was continuing her motherhood journey. She was preparing to meet her child. Her family was preparing to welcome that baby. Then violence entered the room before New Life even had a chance to. For a man to point a gun into the bedroom where the mother of his unborn child slept, with her two children laying next to her and fire off multiple rounds into that bedroom. Taking the life of the mother of his own unborn son is beyond something I have not been able to comprehend. How could anyone do something so heinous, so horrible, so diabolical? And to think that he could have killed everyone in that room, including the one-year-old and the three-year-old, my god, why did this have to happen? It seems so unfair that the children will not only grow up without their mother, but also their sibling. There is no explanation that will ever bring back two lives. And for Devin Anthony's mother to describe her son as someone with ongoing persistent anger issues all of his life, who was simply going through a phase. Going through a phase? Terrible Twos is a phase. Temper tantrums are a phase. What her son did was pure and evil. And then have the nerve to ask the public that he not be seen as a bad kid. As a parent, that response is understandable. Few mothers want to believe the worst about their child. There is a difference between a young person struggling with anger and a person who repeatedly chooses violence. Anger is a human emotion. Violence is a choice. And when violence becomes a pattern, we cannot continue to dismiss it as just a phase. Years before, Shekiah and her unborn son lost their lives, there was another man that lost his life at the hands of Devin Anthony. Was that just a phase two? That earlier case should have been a wake-up call. But despite being prohibited from possessing a firearm, Devin Anthony armed himself yet again. And despite serving 11 months in jail and being given 19 years of probation because he was a first-time offender, this time he fired multiple rounds into the bedroom of a woman who was nine months pregnant with his child, taking two lives in a single act. Here's one thing I can tell you. If my son committed a heinous crime, would I still love him? Yes. Would I support it? No. Would I make an excuse for it? Absolutely not. But you know what concerns me about these young boys? Anger. You have young boys so angry that some of them will develop into angry men. And some of them will turn that anger towards the women in their lives. That is why emotional regulation matters. Because as a society, we do an excellent job teaching young boys how to be physically strong, athletic, and how to be competitive. But we often spend far less time teaching these young boys how to process anger, rejection, disappointment, and humiliation in healthy ways. Too many of our boys grow into men believing that anger is power, that violence is an acceptable response when life doesn't go their way. Make it make sense. The reality is that most young boys with unchecked anger issues will at some point go on to become violent adults when anger is left unchecked, unchallenged, and unmanaged. Too many young men grow up believing that strength means responding to disappointment with aggression. When no one teaches a young man how to regulate his emotions, rejection can feel like humiliation. Hurt can become rage. And if that anger is fed, it can eventually destroy not only the person carrying it, but innocent people who are around them. Every young man deserves to learn that heartbreak is survivable, that disappointment is temporary, and that everything doesn't always go our way. We have to normalize conversations about emotional health with our sons just as much as we teach them anything else. If we want fewer families planning funerals, we must be willing to raise boys who understand that emotional maturity is not weakness. It is one of the greatest strengths that a man can possess. We have to stop acting like rage is just a phase when it is already harming people. We have to stop minimizing violent behavior until someone is dead. None of that gives them the right to destroy another human being's life. None of that brings Shekiah back. None of that gives her baby a chance to live. Violence doesn't just appear out of nowhere. Many times it has a history, and a lot of times the signs are glaring. It has moments where someone could have stepped in, corrected it, challenged it, or addressed it, or taken it seriously. And when we fail to do that, women pay for it. This young man's mother was more concerned about how her son would be viewed by the world than she was with the very violent act that stole two lives and robbed two young children of a life with their mother, talking about how he was angry and going through a phase B for real. Let me ask you a question. Do you think that the criminal justice system cares about your son going through a phase? Do you think that a jury of 12 people care about your son going through a phase? Do you think if your son commits a heinous crime, that on sentencing day the judge is going to care that he was going through a phase? All they will see is what your son did when he was angry. Because the reality is, your son will spend the next phase of his life behind bars for the rest of his life. This case is about far more than one horrific murder. This case is about remembering Shekiah Pridgin and her unborn son, Kyron. Not for how their lives ended, but for the future they should have been given the chance to have. For all women. And we cannot soften that truth. We cannot dress it up. We cannot make it easier to digest. Because there is nothing easy about a woman being murdered while carrying a child. Shakaya was more than what happened to her. She was a mother. She was someone's daughter. Someone whose presence mattered. Someone who had a future. Someone who was carrying a future. And that unborn child was not an afterthought. That baby was part of this story too. That baby had a place in this world that was violently taken. This is why cases like Shekiaya's should shake us. Not because they're heartbreaking, but because they force us to look at the patterns that we continue to ignore. How many women have to be threatened before we believe that they're in danger? How many warning signs have to show up before people take them seriously? When we ignore the early warning signs, the women pay for it. Children pay for it. Families pay for it. Shekiah Prison should still be here. Her baby should still be here. There should have been a birth announcement. There should have been tiny clothes, baby bottles, sleepless nights, first cries, a mother holding her newborn close to her chest. Not a funeral arrangement. And that is the part that should never sit right with us. So as we remember Shekiah, not just as a victim, but as a woman whose life had value. She was a woman who deserved safety, peace, protection, and her future. And let us also remember Kyron, who deserved the chance to enter this world. And let us remember the two young children Shekayah leaves behind. My heart goes out to Shekaya's family. And I pray with their strength through the difficult days ahead. Shekiah and Kyra, may your sweet and beautiful souls live forever to rest in peace. If you or someone you love is experiencing domestic violence, or if you feel unsafe in your relationship, please know that help is available. You do not have to wait until things become physical or to reach out. Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline 247-365 at 1-800-799-SAFE. That is 1-800-799-72233. You can text the word start 288-788. Or you may also visit thehotline.org. Your safety matters, but your fear is valid, and support is available when you're ready. Thank you guys for tuning in to another episode of Senseless True Crime. We appreciate every listen, every message, and every story you send our way. You can reach the show anytime at senseless true crime at gmail.com. And don't forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook at senseless true crime podcasts. And until next time, stay safe, stay informed, and please take care of yourselves.