Willie James, a 65-year-old Black military veteran from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, died on the morning of July 3, 2016, from injuries sustained in a violent street attack on June 21, 2016. Known in his neighborhood for a daily routine that included walking to catch a bus for dialysis appointments, Willie was found lying in the roadway on the 2000 block of North Street near North 20th Street after a passing driver stopped to help. He was rushed to hospital with a severe head injury and, before losing the ability to communicate, told nurses he had been pistol-whipped and robbed by his assailants. He suffered a broken neck and underwent two major surgeries, including brain surgery, but did not survive.

Baton Rouge police are investigating the death as a homicide and believe the attackers may have been involved in other violent robberies in the area; one related incident reported several men in a dark-colored BMW robbing someone a few blocks away. As of January 2017 the case remained unsolved. If anyone knew Willie or has information about the attack, please contact Crime Stoppers.