In the winter of 2019, a young life was tragically cut short on the streets of Baton Rouge. Sixteen-year-old Derrick Smith, a male, was riding his bicycle in the 1400 block of North 40th Street on the afternoon of Wednesday, February 13th, when he was struck by multiple gunshots.
Emergency services responded to the scene, and the young man was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition. For three days, he fought for his life, but the injuries he sustained proved to be too severe.
On Saturday, February 16, 2019, Derrick Smith succumbed to his wounds and was pronounced dead.
The Baton Rouge Police Department launched a homicide investigation into the shooting. At the time of the initial reports, authorities had not publicly identified any suspects or made any arrests in connection with the case. The investigation was ongoing, and police urged anyone with information about the shooting to come forward to assist in bringing those responsible to justice. There have been no subsequent public announcements regarding arrests or the identification of a suspect in his death.
