Annette January, a 19-year-old female from Gary, Indiana, was fatally shot in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in an exchange of gunfire outside an apartment complex. The incident occurred in the early morning hours as a party was taking place. Another woman, 19-year-old Lashuntae Benton of Lake Charles, Louisiana, was also killed in the shooting. Both women were students at Southern University.
The events unfolded following a dispute that escalated into a shootout between at least two
individuals. Investigators believe the shooting stemmed from a previous altercation. Annette January and Lashuntae Benton were caught in the crossfire. A 24-year-old man was also wounded during the incident but his injuries were not considered life-threatening. The shooting took place near the Louisiana State University campus.
In connection with the shooting, police arrested 22-year-old Ernest Bernard Felton of Miami. Felton, a former football player, was taken into custody and charged with attempted second-degree murder and illegal use of a weapon. A witness identified Felton as the person who initiated the shooting. Authorities were awaiting the results of ballistic analysis to determine who was responsible for the fatal shots that killed the two women. A judge ordered Felton to be held on a $90,000 bond.
