In the early morning hours of January 30, 2023, a parked vehicle in the Waffle House lot on Rieger Road in Baton Rouge was ambushed by a shooter. Horace Watson, 37, and 33-year-old Leonard Leslie were inside the car when someone waiting outside opened fire. Both men were found dead at the scene; the car was left riddled with bullet holes and the restaurant sustained stray bullet damage but no patrons inside were injured.

East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of gunfire around 3 a.m. Investigators described the attack as targeted, with windows shattered and doors pierced, and said they were working to determine a motive and identify the shooter or shooters. No arrests had been announced and no suspects were publicly named.

If anyone saw activity in the Waffle House parking lot that night or has information about who might have been waiting outside, please contact the Sheriff’s Office.