Police chief puts more cops on the street after Baton Rouge had 28 shootings in March

Michael Scheidt
·3 min read

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — The Baton Rouge Police Department held a news conference about recent shootings in the city on Monday, March 25, at BRPD headquarters. Chief Thomas Morse Jr. said the year started with a noticeable uptick in serious violent crimes.

“Year-to-date, we’ve had 26 actual homicides. This month alone, our city has had 28 separate shooting incidents. That’s absolutely unacceptable,” Morse said.

The recent weekend was especially violent. There were multiple shootings and a bar fight that reportedly left a man dead.

The chief said the vast majority of shootings have not been random.

“I want the public to know that what we’ve been experiencing in regards to shootings in our city have mostly been very personal, highly-targeted incidents,” Morse said. He said the department is finding many of these have multiple shooters and the victims and suspects have close ties with escalating disputes and arguments.

Two shootings over the weekend, he said, are like these.

On Nicholson Drive, three suspects reportedly targeted a man leaving a convenience store. Jeffery Doutrive, 22, died as a result of his injuries.

Two people were hurt around 3:50 p.m. Sunday, March 14, at BREC Howell Community Park, according to BRPD. Morse said a 14-year-old suspect “produced a handgun and began shooting during a fistfight.”

“We’ve made 15 homicide arrests. Of those 15, six have been juveniles. This is very alarming considering last year, nine juveniles were arrested for homicide in the total of 2023. We’re already up to six,” Morse said.

“Gun violence, in particular, has been a persistent challenge that we have head-on tackled day in and day out. My administration, our law enforcement agencies and community organizations have been doing the work. We’ve invested in cameras with gun detection and technology to enhance our ability to prevent and solve crimes,” East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome said.

BRPD chief says proactive policing helps

“In my first 50 days, I sat down with all shifts of uniformed patrol and their supervisors. I have directed my officers to engage in proactive policing in addition to the nearly 30,000 calls they’ve responded to so far this year,” Morse said.

Morse said proactive policing led to them making 734 felony arrests and 176 juvenile arrests.

Police have also reportedly seized 306 guns and recovered approximately 200 stolen vehicles.

Morse said the suspects and victims are not only increasingly familiar with one another but are getting younger and younger.

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“With the school year winding down and the summer months fast approaching, it’s time we further start to zero in on the small group of individuals that are involved in the shootings in our city. I’m increasing resources to divisions that are more proactive in their enforcement and information gathering to prevent these shootings from occurring,” Morse said.

Broome said her administration’s focus is laser-sharp on the “small number of individuals who are causing violence and unrest in our streets.”

Morse said the public will see more police units on the street since he he has initiated more directed, proactive overtime patrols.

“These proactive patrols are directed by information from our VCU detectives, intelligence units, federal task force partners and crime analysts. We are already seeing the benefits from these patrols in making arrests and seizing illegal firearms and narcotics,” Morse said.

Broome said results are seen when the community works with law enforcement.

“We need the entire community to come together, united in our resolve to reclaim our streets and make Baton Rouge a safe city once again,” Broome said.

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