In the early evening of December 19, 2022, a young man's life was abruptly cut short in the parking lot of the Broadmoor Plantation Apartments on Florida Boulevard in Baton Rouge. Timothy Chapman, a 21-year-old male, was fatally shot around 7:15 p.m. during what authorities believe was an attempted robbery. He was with a passenger at the time of the incident, who survived the ordeal.
Chapman tragically died at the scene from his injuries, marking another homicide for the city.
The initial investigation into the shooting began without a named suspect. However, the Baton Rouge Police Department's Homicide Detectives diligently worked the case. Their efforts led to a significant breakthrough in February 2023 with the arrest of 23-year-old Jeremiah Ezara Hayes. Investigators believe that Hayes shot Chapman during the commission of an armed robbery. According to arrest documents, it is alleged that Hayes and another individual referred to as 'CJ' had lured Chapman and his companion to the location with the intent of robbing them. Hayes was subsequently booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on a charge of first-degree murder.
As the investigation continued to unfold, more individuals were implicated in the crime. Shayla Thompson was also arrested and faced charges of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted armed robbery for her alleged involvement. A third suspect, 26-year-old Charles Aites, was apprehended on December 1, 2025, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshal's Fugitive Task Force. Aites was also booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on a charge of first-degree murder, bringing another alleged participant in the fatal robbery to justice.
