On the evening of March 16, 2023, 11-year-old Matthew Fortenberry was fatally shot while sitting inside a vehicle on Crestway Avenue in Baton Rouge. His mother drove him to Our Lady of the Lake hospital, but he died of his injuries. Matthew was a promising student and a star basketball player at Glen Oaks Park Elementary; he and his team were scheduled to be honored at a Metro Council meeting for a recent championship.

Authorities say Matthew and his family were allegedly held at gunpoint in their car as a suspect tried to lure a relative of the victims. A 17-year-old male, Kelton Maloid, was later found with multiple gunshot wounds on Greenwell Street that same night, treated at a hospital, and after release was booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. He faces one count of first-degree murder in Matthew’s death, four counts of attempted first-degree murder, false imprisonment with a dangerous weapon, and illegal use of a weapon. The motive has not been definitively established.

A community fund was set up to assist Matthew’s family with funeral expenses. If anyone knew Matthew, his family, or has information about the shooting, please come forward.