Curtis Ford

On the afternoon of July 22, 2015, the life of Curtis Ford, a 33-year-old Black man from Tallulah, Louisiana, was tragically cut short in Monroe. Known to friends as "Curt," he was remembered as a loveable and friendly individual whose presence brought warmth to those around him. His death left a void in the lives of his family and friends, who would later gather to honor his memory at the Oakwood Baptist Church in Waterproof, Louisiana.

The fatal encounter occurred around 1:30 p.m. on South Third Street. According to the Monroe Police Department, the shooting was not a random act of violence but the culmination of an ongoing altercation between Ford and another man. In the midst of that summer day, the dispute escalated, and Ford sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the head. First responders found him at the scene, but his injury was too severe, and he died there on the street. The incident was a stark and brutal end to a conflict that had reportedly been simmering for some time.

The Monroe Police Department launched an immediate homicide investigation, with Detective Jeremy Kent leading the effort. Within days, investigators identified a suspect: 21-year-old Vinterrious Burton. Police quickly secured an arrest warrant for Burton on a charge of second-degree murder, and his bond was set at $250,000. The shooting was the first of two fatal incidents on South Third Street within a two-week period, prompting concern from city officials. In response to the violence, Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo announced the placement of a mobile police command center in the area to establish a stronger presence and reassure the "many decent hard working people living in this area."

In a public plea for information following the shootings, Mayor Mayo urged the community to come forward. "We still need witnesses to come forward and share more information about these three recent homicides," he stated, referencing Ford's death and the subsequent double homicide. "The shooter from last week’s murder has been identified, but he is still on the loose. Someone knows where he is and what he has done. Please help us bring this person to justice and give a level of closure to the victim’s family." He stressed that the families of the victims deserved to know what happened and why.

The search for the suspect continued for nearly a month. Then, on Friday, August 21, 2015, Monroe police arrested Vinterrious Burton in connection with Curtis Ford's slaying. Burton was taken into custody and booked into the Ouachita Correctional Center, facing the charge of second-degree murder.

Following the arrest, the public record of the case's progression through the legal system becomes less clear. While the Monroe Police Department successfully identified and apprehended the suspect they believed was responsible for Curtis Ford's death, details regarding the subsequent trial, verdict, or potential plea agreement for Vinterrious Burton are not readily available in public sources. The case moved from an active investigation to the litigation phase, but the ultimate judicial outcome remains documented outside of the public view as of late 2015. Anyone with information regarding the homicide was urged to contact the Monroe Police Department or Crime Stoppers.