In the late afternoon hours of New Year's Eve 2024, a burst of violence shattered the holiday atmosphere in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. William Bradford IV, a 44-year-old Black/African American male, found himself in the 2000 block of O'Neal Lane at approximately 4:25 p.m. when he was struck by gunfire. The emergency call brought a swift response, and Bradford was rushed to a local hospital, but the gravity of his injuries proved too severe.
He succumbed to the gunshot wounds, leaving a family to grapple with a sudden and tragic loss on the cusp of a new year.
The Baton Rouge Police Department's Homicide Division immediately launched an investigation into the fatal shooting. In the initial days, the motive behind the attack and the identity of the perpetrator remained elusive. Detectives worked the case, appealing to the public for any information that could shed light on the circumstances leading to Bradford's death. Their persistence paid off, and soon the investigation pointed toward two individuals.
The first breakthrough came with the arrest of 32-year-old Glenn Walker. He was taken into custody and faced a slate of serious charges, including first-degree murder, armed robbery, and second-degree battery. Walker was subsequently booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison as the investigation continued to unfold. This development brought a sense of progress to the case, but the story was far from over.
A second arrest followed, adding a shocking and deeply personal layer to the tragedy. With the assistance of the U.S. Marshal's Office, detectives located and apprehended 37-year-old Kelvin Robins in Ascension Parish. Robins was also charged with first-degree murder, as well as principal to armed robbery and principal to second-degree battery. In a heart-wrenching twist, it was revealed that Kelvin Robins was William Bradford's cousin. The arrest of a family member in connection with his murder sent a new wave of anguish through the victim's loved ones, transforming a senseless act of violence into an intimate betrayal. The investigation remains ongoing as the legal process for both suspects begins.
