5 Shooting Deaths in Baton "Safe Place" Rouge Over the Weekend

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BRPD investigating four shootings, three deaths after violent weekend across Baton Rouge

North Street
A body was found at the BREC North Street Park Sunday morning. An East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff’s deputy working extra duty at a church was alerted before noon about the body found in a park.

Baton Rouge police responded, and UWK has learned the coroner’s office was dispatched to the scene. The circumstances surrounding the death have not yet been released.

Victoria Drive
Baton Rouge police is investigating after one person was shot in the 3800 block of Victoria Dr. around 10 p.m. Saturday. That’s near Airline Hwy. and Greenwell Springs Rd.

The victim was transported to the hospital. Their condition is unknown.

75th Avenue
About two hours later around midnight Sunday, a 21-year-old was shot in the 1600 block of 75th Ave. This is near Airline Hwy. and Harding Blvd.

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2 dead, 1 hurt in 2 separate shootings in BR

Two people are dead and one person was taken to the hospital after two separate shootings in Baton Rouge late Sunday night into Monday morning.

A spokesman with the Baton Rouge Police Department confirmed one person was found dead on West McKinley Street near Nicholson Drive around 12:45 a.m. Monday, May 22. A second victim was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.

Baton Rouge police responded to another deadly shooting in the 12000 block of Province Place near Old Hammond Highway around 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 21.

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'Baton Rouge is a safe place': BRPD chief addresses worries over recent high-profile crimes

At a time when many people feel unsafe in the capital city, Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul took the microphone at Wednesday's Rotary Club meeting to address the public's concerns.

“Baton Rouge is a safe place," Paul said.

Paul says a "culture of violence" has developed within the community of Baton Rouge, and the problems begin at home.

“The root causes… lack of education, mental health, substance abuse, lack of faith, depreciation in family values."

In his speech, Paul said the answer to crime prevention is community-building through programs that will keep youth out of trouble and in school. Specifically, he wants to see more resources for young Black males who are statistically more likely to commit crimes.

“If we want to continue to see progress and build on the progress that we’ve already seen, then we must invest in Black boys."

The chief said Baton Rouge Police are doing their part to keep repeat offenders off the streets.

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