In the fall of 2016, a fatal shooting at a Baton Rouge event hall cut short the life of a woman named Youlanda Hunter. The incident, which occurred on October 5th at the Renaissance Center on Plank Road, was the result of a planned robbery that quickly turned violent. Hunter and a male colleague, Ricky McCants, were the only two people in the business when three armed individuals stormed in with the intent to rob the establishment.
The perpetrators immediately opened fire upon entering.
McCants, who was an employee at the center, was shot multiple times but managed to escape and survive his injuries. Tragically, Youlanda Hunter was also shot multiple times. One of the assailants, later identified as Alvin Donahue, chased her down a hallway and fired the fatal shots. Hunter was transported to a local hospital where she succumbed to her wounds.
The investigation into the violent crime led to the identification and arrest of several suspects. McCants was able to identify one of the shooters as a fellow employee, 18-year-old Marquise Bailey, and his friend, Donnie Tyler. Both were subsequently arrested. Further investigation and information provided by the initial suspects led police to their third accomplice, 19-year-old Alvin Donahue, who was identified as the individual who shot and killed Hunter. A fourth individual, Kwame Orlando Robinson, was also arrested in connection with the crime. Police determined that Robinson was one of two people who had planned the robbery.
The suspects faced serious charges for their roles in the deadly armed robbery. Marquise Bailey and Donnie Tyler were booked on charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. Alvin Donahue was booked on murder charges. Kwame Orlando Robinson was arrested on counts of attempted first-degree murder and principal to first-degree murder, for his part in planning the robbery that led to the death of Youlanda Hunter.
