In the early evening of September 17, 2025, tragedy struck in Baton Rouge when 19-year-old Joseph Mitchell was shot and killed. The fatal incident occurred around 6:30 p.m. in the 3900 block of Eleanor Drive, near the intersection with Linden Street. Emergency services responded to the scene, and the East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner's Office later identified the victim as Joseph Mitchell.
The Baton Rouge Police Department immediately launched an investigation into the homicide.
Following the shooting, authorities began the process of identifying those responsible for Joseph Mitchell's death. Their investigation led them to develop a suspect and to begin searching for a specific vehicle. On Friday, September 26, 2025, police located the suspect's vehicle. A short pursuit ensued, which ended in a traffic crash and the subsequent arrest of two individuals, DeKendall Hickman and Larry Thompson.
In connection with the death of Joseph Mitchell, DeKendall Hickman was arrested and faced a number of serious charges. These included first-degree murder, four counts of attempted first-degree murder, illegal use of a weapon, and possession of a machine gun, among other charges. The details of Larry Thompson's charges were not immediately released. Funeral services for Joseph Mitchell were scheduled for Saturday, October 4, 2025, at the Greater Mount Canaan Baptist Church, with interment at Oak Grove Cemetery in Baton Rouge.
