BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) – Baton Rouge Police held a press conference Monday following a deadly weekend.
On Friday night, a 22-year-old and five-year-old were shot to death during a drive-by shooting on Brightside Drive. Police said it was a targeted crime.
“We had 8 victims in a vehicle on Brightside. Four of those victims were six years of age and younger, six, five and three, and one year old in the car,” said Lt. Kevin Heinz, violent crimes commander.
The uncle and nephew were sitting in the back seat when bullets hit their Honda Accord.
“Someone out there knows who is responsible for the death of this baby,” Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul.
Baton Rouge broke the homicide record this year — 157 and counting.
BRPD Chief Murphy Paul said most violent crimes happen in the same area in the city, within just nine square miles. He’s working with judges to increase bonds to ensure the same bad guys don’t return to the streets.
“When we arrest individuals or make arrests for homicides or violent crimes, for some reason, those individuals make it back to the streets of Baton Rouge,” he said.
In the upcoming new year, millions of dollars will be spent on public safety.
“Data collected by the police department shows that overall crime is trending downwards in Baton Rouge. Yet, like many other cities, we are seeing an increase of gun violence in our streets,” EBR Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome.
Police still don’t have a motive or suspects in regards to the shooting.
They are again asking for the public’s help. If you have any information you are urged to call the police or Crime Stoppers at 344-7867.
