In the afternoon hours of November 30, 2021, the life of 27-year-old Kentrell Payton, a male resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was tragically cut short. At approximately 1:20 p.m., Baton Rouge Police were dispatched to a residence in the 2600 block of Eaton Street following reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers discovered Payton inside his home, suffering from what were described as apparent gunshot wounds.
He was rushed to a local hospital for medical attention but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The subsequent investigation into Payton's death quickly identified a suspect. Baton Rouge Police Detectives pinpointed 18-year-old Lijames Powell as the individual allegedly responsible for the fatal shooting. An arrest warrant was issued for Powell, charging him with second-degree murder and illegal use of a weapon. Believing Powell was connected to Payton's death, law enforcement began a search for the teenage suspect.
The manhunt for Powell concluded on December 7, 2021, when he was located and apprehended in New Orleans by the U.S. Marshals Task Force. Following his arrest, Powell was extradited back to Baton Rouge to face the charges against him. He was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on the charge of second-degree murder, marking a significant development in the investigation into the death of Kentrell Payton.
