In the early morning hours of July 13, 2025, a violent encounter in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, claimed the life of 44-year-old Byron Howard. He was sitting in a vehicle with a passenger in the 6000 block of South Sherwood Forest Boulevard when they were both shot multiple times. The shooting occurred around 2:38 a.m. Both Howard, who was the driver, and his passenger were transported to a local hospital for their injuries. Howard succumbed to his wounds at the hospital.
The second victim, later identified as Jordan Scott, was initially in critical condition and died from his injuries on July 21, 2025.
The investigation into the double homicide led Baton Rouge Police to identify a suspect. On August 1, 2025, authorities announced the arrest of 26-year-old Raheem Starwood in connection with the fatal shooting. Starwood was taken into custody and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.
Following his arrest, Raheem Starwood was charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Byron Howard and Jordan Scott. He also faced a charge of illegal use of a weapon. The investigation into the motive for the shooting was ongoing following Starwood's arrest.
