William Guillard, a 26-year-old male, was a fun-loving young man, known for always smiling. A graduate of Apostolic Lighthouse Academy, he was a certified home renovator who had worked in carpentry since his teenage years.
On January 2, 2019, at approximately 4:29 p.m., a shooting occurred at Guillard's home located on South 16th Street in Baton Rouge. He sustained injuries in the incident and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Two days later, on January 4, 2019, William Guillard succumbed to his injuries and passed away at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital. In an act of generosity, he was an organ donor, and his gift saved the lives of three other people.
Following the shooting, the Baton Rouge Police Department began an investigation into the homicide. While the initial motive was unknown, their investigation led them to identify a suspect. An arrest warrant was issued for Malik Prestly, who was 22 years old at the time, on the charge of second-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of William Guillard. Authorities urged anyone with information on Prestly's whereabouts to contact the Violent Crimes Unit or Crime Stoppers.
