In the late summer of 2016, a dispute between two men in Baton Rouge would end in tragedy. On August 14, Jered McCalope, a 26-year-old male, was in the parking lot in the 6000 block of Rembrandt Avenue around 11:30 in the morning. It was there that his life was cut short by gunfire. Investigators believe the shooting was the culmination of an ongoing disagreement he had with another individual.
The incident left the community searching for answers and a suspect at large.
For nearly two years, the case of Jered McCalope's death remained a priority for Baton Rouge Police Detectives. The investigation pressed on until a significant break led them to a suspect. In May of 2018, authorities arrested 26-year-old Shykeem Tyshawn McNeal in connection with the fatal shooting. The arrest brought a renewed sense of hope for justice for McCalope and his loved ones.
Following his arrest, Shykeem McNeal was taken into custody and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. He faced serious charges for his alleged role in the 2016 homicide. The charges brought against him were Second Degree Murder and Illegal Use of Weapons or Dangerous Instrumentalities. While in custody, McNeal faced additional legal trouble when he was implicated in a separate murder-for-hire plot, further complicating his legal situation.
