In the late morning of November 29, 2021, a grim discovery was made on Gus Young Avenue in Baton Rouge. Eighteen-year-old Joshua Shorter, a male native of the city, was found inside a vehicle, having been shot multiple times. The Baton Rouge Police Department responded to the scene at approximately 10:20 a.m., where Shorter was pronounced dead, seated in the driver's side of his car.
The investigation into the teenager's death continued for several months.
Then, on February 23, 2022, authorities announced a significant development in the case. The Baton Rouge Police Department confirmed the arrest of a suspect in connection with Shorter's killing.
The individual taken into custody was identified as 21-year-old Ralph Paul. He was subsequently booked on multiple charges, including second-degree murder, illegal use of a weapon, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Shorter's passing was mourned by his family, including his mother, Tamikka Rose Shorter, and his father, James Mack, Jr.
