A fight between two men outside a Baton Rouge lounge early Sunday ended with one man shot in the abdomen and a 28-year-old suspect under arrest within hours. Police say officers responded to 4323 Airline Highway around 1:09 a.m. on Oct. 25, found a victim with gunshot wounds, and spotted a man running from the scene allegedly still firing his weapon.
According to wafb.com, officers who responded to the reported shooting found that a fight had broken out between two men moments before shots rang out. Police said officers saw the suspect, later identified as Kendale Cryer, running from the scene after allegedly firing shots. Cryer was apprehended and was found in possession of a Glock 23 .40-caliber handgun, investigators said.
A witness account cited by WBRZ places the confrontation near a food truck parked outside Da Hole, the lounge at the Airline Highway address. The witness reportedly saw a man wearing a grey hoodie and black jeans, holding a gun, walk past the food truck. Shots were fired shortly after, and the victim fell to the ground, according to that same witness account.
Victim Rushed to Hospital, Suspect Booked on Multiple Charges
Officers provided aid to the victim before he was transferred by EMS to a local hospital, per the wafb.com report. The extent of his injuries had not been released as of publication. Cryer was arrested early Sunday morning.
He was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on charges of attempted second-degree murder, illegal use of weapons, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, wafb.com reported. The WBRZ arrest report uses the fuller charge wording, illegal use of weapons or dangerous instrumentalities. Separately, the WBRZ arrest report lists illegal carrying of weapons among the charges against Cryer.
What Louisiana Law Says About the Charges
Louisiana's second-degree murder statute, as excerpted by the Louisiana Legislature, covers the killing of a human being when the offender has specific intent to kill or inflict great bodily harm, or when the offender is engaged in the perpetration or attempted perpetration of certain other listed offenses. Cryer was charged with attempted second-degree murder. The illegal use of weapons charge stems from a separate statute covering dangerous discharge of a firearm, as outlined by the Louisiana Legislature, while illegal carrying of weapons is addressed under its own section of state law.
Investigators said the investigation remains ongoing, per wafb.com. No court date, bond information, or statement from Cryer has been made public, and the victim's current medical condition has not been confirmed.
