In the late evening of August 18, 2025, a tragic and senseless act of violence cut short the life of 28-year-old Labriesha Patterson, a mother from Shreveport, Louisiana. Patterson was driving in the 1600 block of Martin Luther King Drive around 10:30 p.m. when she was struck by multiple gunshots in what police have described as a drive-by shooting.
The heartbreak of her death was compounded by the fact that it occurred on the eve of one of her son's birthdays.
Investigators quickly determined that Patterson was an innocent victim, not the intended target of her assailants. It is believed that the shooters were pursuing another individual who was in a vehicle similar to hers. This case of mistaken identity marked the 25th homicide in Shreveport and the 29th in Caddo Parish for the year, highlighting a disturbing trend of violence in the community. It was the second time in just two months that a woman in the area had been killed by gunfire intended for someone else.
The Shreveport Police Department launched a swift and thorough investigation, which led to the rapid apprehension of four suspects. Within days of the shooting, police had arrested Deceldrion Gay, Tywann Gipson, and Rodney Thomas Jr. The fourth and final suspect, Semaj Mitchell, was taken into custody on August 21, 2025. One of the suspects was reportedly hanging from the window of the moving vehicle, firing at Patterson's car, and sustained injuries when their own vehicle later crashed.
All four individuals—Deceldrion Gay, Tywann Gipson, Rodney Thomas Jr., and Semaj Mitchell—have been charged with second-degree murder in connection with Labriesha Patterson's death. The arrests brought a small measure of solace to a grieving family and a community shaken by the random nature of the violence. Community members gathered for a candlelight vigil to honor Patterson's memory, remembering her as a young mother whose life was tragically stolen. A celebration of her life was held on August 29 at Heavenly Gates Funeral Home.
