Derrick Thomas, a 53-year-old man, was shot and killed in his vehicle in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on the afternoon of June 27, 2023. At around 3 p.m., Mr. Thomas was sitting in his black pickup truck at a stop sign near the intersection of Woodpecker Street and Avenue J when he was struck by multiple gunshots. The driver's-side window was shattered, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The motive for the attack and the identity of his killer remain unknown.
About an hour after Mr.
Thomas was killed, a second shooting occurred just over a mile away on Townsley Street. The victims were Joseph Profit, 48, and Robin Hayes, 52. Mr. Profit died at the scene, and Ms. Hayes was transported to a local hospital where she later died from her injuries. While police initially stated they had no evidence connecting the two fatal incidents, the subsequent investigation would reveal a tragic link.
Investigators soon identified Derrick Thomas’s son, 37-year-old Derrick Coleman, as the primary suspect in the Townsley Street double homicide. According to arrest documents, police learned that Mr. Coleman believed Joseph Profit was responsible for his father’s murder earlier that day. Body camera footage from the scene of his father’s killing reportedly showed Mr. Coleman in a rage. Further evidence, including security and body camera video, placed him at both crime scenes wearing the same clothing: a white t-shirt and blue gym shorts.
In September 2023, Derrick Coleman was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder and illegal use of a weapon in the deaths of Mr. Profit and Ms. Hayes. However, the state later dropped all charges against him in connection with the double homicide.
The murder of Derrick Thomas remains unsolved. Following the dismissal of charges against his son, the killings of Joseph Profit and Robin Hayes also remain unresolved. Police have urged anyone with information about the shooting of Derrick Thomas to contact the Violent Crimes Unit at (225) 389-4869 or Crime Stoppers at (225) 344-7867.
