Just five months into 2016, 19 lives have been taken in the Capital Area.
“It’s very heartbreaking, not only for me, but I’m sure for the families that receive the phone calls to come identify their children, their loved ones, dead, taken, basically for nothing,” said Keon Preston.
Preston knows that feeling all too well. Last year, there were more than 70 homicides in Baton Rouge, and one of the lives lost was Preston’s little brother Calvin.
“He was shot multiple times. It was, from what we got, it was a fight, and the young man pulled out a gun, and just let lose, and the end result was death,” explained Preston. “One of my older sisters was shot. My uncle was shot, and I had another brother on my dad’s side was left for dead.”
Right now, baton rouge police are still investigating multiple homicides, including the shooting deaths of two Southern University students, but they can’t do it alone. They need your help.
“They can help fill in the holes, and they can point us into the direction, and give us that one tad bit of information that will pull this puzzle together,” said Cpl. L’Jean McKneely of the Baton Rouge Police Department.
As summer comes around, McKneely said crime becomes even more of a problem.
“Crime tends to increase because of the opportunity to commit those types of crimes,” said McKneely.
“We have not even seen violence yet. It’s going to be horrible, and I encourage every mother to pray over their child when they walk out the door because it’s not a guarantee that they will come back to you,” said Preston.
Preston has an organization called Stop the Violence.
Last year by this time, BRPD worked 22 homicides compared to 13 so far this year.
If you see something, say something. If you have information that can help police solve any of these cases, call Crime Stoppers at (225) 344-7867 (STOP).
For a list of homicide statistics in the Capital City, head to www.batonrougecrime.com.