In the early morning hours of May 30, 2020, in Evansville, Indiana, the life of 20-year-old Keijuan Baker was tragically cut short. Baker, a charismatic and funny young man known for his amazing smile, was a loving father to his son. He was described by those who knew him as a great father, brother, son, nephew, and grandson who loved his son very much.
On that fateful night, Baker was at a Kico gas station on South Kentucky Avenue when gunfire erupted.
Both he and 20-year-old Mariah Desiree Strother were struck by bullets in what police believe was a senseless act of violence where neither was the intended target. Strother was pronounced dead at the scene, while Baker was rushed to a local hospital where he succumbed to a single gunshot wound. A third individual was also wounded in the shooting but was reported to be in stable condition.
The Evansville Police Department immediately launched a homicide investigation, seeking two unnamed suspects who were seen fleeing the area. Despite appeals to the community for information, the case has grown cold, joining the list of unsolved homicides in Evansville for 2020. The families of both Keijuan Baker and Mariah Strother have been left to grapple with the devastating loss and the lack of justice for their loved ones. Authorities have expressed that fear of retaliation within the community may be preventing witnesses from coming forward with crucial information that could lead to an arrest. As of now, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified in connection with the murders. The case remains an open and active investigation.
