In the early morning hours of January 8, 2026, Alfred Webster Hyams, a 27-year-old man, was fatally shot at his residence in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, marking the city's first homicide of the year. The incident occurred around 8:32 a.m. at an apartment complex on Alaska Street. According to the Baton Rouge Police Department, Hyams was involved in a domestic-related physical altercation that escalated, resulting in him suffering a gunshot wound.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following the shooting, the suspect fled the area before law enforcement arrived. However, a person of interest was later apprehended in the neighboring Tangipahoa Parish. Authorities confirmed that they had spoken with the individual allegedly involved in the dispute and the subsequent shooting. Reports from the time indicated that Hyams' ex-girlfriend was in the vicinity when the fatal event took place.
In the days following the shooting, the investigation remained active. While a person of interest was questioned, law enforcement officials had not publicly released the individual's name or filed any formal charges. The case was part of a string of violent incidents that occurred in Baton Rouge during the early part of January 2026. A GoFundMe page, organized by his sister, described his death as a tragic result of gun violence and highlighted his role as a loving father to his two children and a caregiver for his five siblings following the passing of their mother.
