In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on the evening of March 16, 2023, 11-year-old Matthew Fortenberry, a male, was fatally shot while sitting inside a vehicle on Crestway Avenue. In a desperate attempt to save him, his mother rushed him to Our Lady of the Lake hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries. At the time of his death, Matthew was a promising student and a star basketball player for Glen Oaks Park Elementary.
He and his team were scheduled to be honored at a Metro Council meeting for their recent basketball championship.
The events leading to the shooting involved Matthew and his family allegedly being held at gunpoint inside their car. Authorities believe the suspect was attempting to lure a relative of the victims. A 17-year-old male, Kelton Maloid, was later identified as the alleged perpetrator. He was found with multiple gunshot wounds on Greenwell Street on the same night and was taken to a hospital for treatment before being taken into custody. It remains unclear who shot the suspect.
Following his release from the hospital, the 17-year-old suspect was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. He faces serious charges, including one count of first-degree murder for the death of Matthew Fortenberry, four counts of attempted first-degree murder, false imprisonment with a dangerous weapon, and illegal use of a weapon. The motive for the shooting has not been definitively established by investigators. In the wake of the tragedy, city leaders and the community came together to support Matthew's grieving family, establishing a fund to assist with funeral expenses.
