In the late hours of a Tuesday night in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the life of Loston Tiner Jr., a 21-year-old male, was abruptly cut short. On August 4, 2020, at approximately 10:30 p.m., shots rang out in the parking lot of the Acadian Place Apartments on South Flannery Road. When police arrived, they found Tiner with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
In what would be her last conversation with her son, his mother, Renee Tiner, had spoken to him on the phone just six minutes before he was killed.
The initial investigation offered few leads for law enforcement. Authorities reported that there were no known motives or suspects in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. Tiner was not a resident of the apartment complex where he was found, and it was later revealed he had just picked up some fried chicken and was on his way home. Why he stopped at the apartment complex remains a mystery to his family and investigators. In his final moments, as he lay in the parking lot, two women reportedly rushed to his side, holding his hand, attempting to resuscitate him, and praying with him.
Years have passed since Loston Tiner Jr.'s death, and the case has grown cold. No arrests have been made, and a suspect or suspects have not been publicly identified. The Baton Rouge Police Department has periodically appealed to the public for any information that might lead to a breakthrough in the investigation. The lack of answers has left his family in a state of prolonged grief. His mother and his older brother, Marcus Tiner, a former LSU track star, have continued to advocate for justice for Loston. They remember him as a sweet soul with a warm smile who loved his family and treated everyone with respect. Their public pleas for anyone with information to come forward reflect their unwavering determination to find out who was responsible for his death and why it happened. The family has considered holding a vigil in his honor as they continue their search for closure.
