On a summer afternoon in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, tragedy struck at a residence on Townsley Street near Scenic Highway. On June 27, 2023, 48-year-old Joseph Profit, a male, was shot multiple times and pronounced dead at the scene. Another individual, 52-year-old Robin Hayes, was also shot during the incident. Hayes was transported to a local hospital but ultimately succumbed to her injuries.
The shooting occurred around 4:20 p.m., marking a violent episode in the city that day, though authorities did not believe it was connected to another shooting that had taken place earlier.
The initial investigation into the double homicide on Townsley Street began with an unknown motive and no immediate suspects. Investigators from the Baton Rouge Police Department's Homicide Division delved into the case, considering the victims' past interactions with law enforcement as potential leads. It was noted that Profit and Hayes, who were cousins, had a history of a prior domestic altercation. In a previous incident, Profit had been accused of striking Hayes with a can of chili during an argument.
Months later, a breakthrough was made in the investigation. On September 19, 2023, Baton Rouge Police Homicide Detectives arrested 37-year-old Derrick Coleman in connection with the fatal shootings of Joseph Profit and Robin Hayes. Coleman was taken into custody without incident and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. He faces serious charges, including two counts of first-degree murder and illegal use of a weapon, as the legal proceedings against him commence.
