In the winter of 2014, the community of Bastrop, Louisiana, was shaken by the violent and untimely death of 18-year-old Dontae Moore, an African American male. On the afternoon of Friday, February 28, 2014, the sound of gunfire shattered the peace near Cherry Ridge Road. When Morehouse Parish Sheriff's deputies arrived at the scene, they discovered a grim tableau. Dontae Moore was found lying in a parking lot, suffering from a gunshot wound.
About a block away, another young man, 17-year-old Antonio Moore, was also found injured.
Both victims were rushed to Morehouse General Hospital for medical attention. Tragically, Dontae Moore succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. Antonio Moore, who was not related to Dontae, was treated for his injuries and was fortunately released from the hospital later that same day. The incident cast a somber shadow over the small Louisiana city, leaving friends, family, and community members to grapple with the sudden loss of a young life. In the days that followed, funeral services for Dontae Moore were held at the Morehouse Association Building in Bastrop, and he was laid to rest at Jerusalem Cemetery in Mer Rouge.
The investigation into the shooting quickly progressed. Later on the same night of the incident, an 18-year-old suspect named Devante Payton turned himself in to the Morehouse Parish Sheriff's deputies. Following his surrender, Payton was arrested and faced serious charges. He was charged with one count of second-degree murder for the death of Dontae Moore and one count of attempted second-degree murder in connection with the shooting of Antonio Moore. The swift arrest brought a sense of cautious relief to a community mourning a senseless act of violence, as the legal process began to seek justice for Dontae Moore and his family.
