In the late afternoon of December 18, 2009, a burst of gunfire shattered the quiet of a Baton Rouge neighborhood, leaving a young man's life tragically cut short. Michael Smith, a 19-year-old Black male, was found behind a residence in the 1700 block of Wisteria Street, having sustained fatal gunshot wounds. The Baton Rouge Police Department had received multiple calls around 4:20 p.m.
reporting several individuals armed with guns, running and shooting in the vicinity of South 15th and South 16th Streets.
The initial investigation into Smith's death presented a complex puzzle for law enforcement, and for a time, the case remained shrouded in mystery. However, a significant breakthrough eventually pointed investigators toward a suspect. The trail led to Michael "Marlo Mike" Louding, who was reportedly an alleged hitman for local rapper Torrence "Lil Boosie" Hatch.
Authorities ultimately arrested Louding and charged him with second-degree murder in connection with Michael Smith's death. The accusation added to a string of violent crimes linked to the group. Despite the initial charge, the legal proceedings against Louding in this specific case did not result in a conviction for the murder of Michael Smith. The second-degree murder charge against him for Smith's death was later dismissed, leaving the case without a conclusive resolution through the justice system. The narrative of that violent afternoon and the subsequent investigation highlights a turbulent period in the city, with a young life lost amidst a backdrop of broader criminal entanglements.
