Shakisha Perry

A late-night burst of gunfire in Baton Rouge tragically cut short the life of Shakisha Perry, a 45-year-old woman. She was shot while sitting in a parked car and passed away five days later, leaving behind a grieving family and a community seeking justice.

The attack occurred on the evening of Wednesday, November 4, 2026. At around 10:20 p.m., Ms. Perry was seated inside a vehicle parked in the front yard of a residence in the 4700 block of Broadway Street, near the intersection with Evangeline Street. In a sudden act of violence, she was struck by gunfire. Officers from the Baton Rouge Police Department were dispatched to the scene after receiving a 911 call about the shooting.

Upon arrival, they discovered Ms. Perry with critical injuries. Emergency medical personnel provided immediate aid and transported her to a local hospital. For five days, she fought for her life, but the severity of her wounds was too great. Ms. Perry succumbed to her injuries on Monday, November 9, 2026, and her death was classified as a homicide.

The Baton Rouge Police Department's Violent Crimes Unit is leading the investigation into her killing. In the days following the shooting, detectives began canvassing the residential neighborhood in the northern part of the city, searching for evidence and potential witnesses. However, the circumstances leading up to the shooting remained shrouded in mystery. In public statements, police officials confirmed that they had not yet determined a motive for the attack, nor had they identified any suspects. The specific details of what transpired in the moments before the shots were fired have not been made public.

The incident added to the city's homicide count for the year. The broader context of violence in the area shows a fluctuating trend. In the prior year, 2025, East Baton Rouge Parish recorded 94 homicides, which was a decrease from 113 in 2024 and significantly lower than the high of 149 in 2021. Of the 2025 cases, the Baton Rouge Police Department investigated 71, achieving a clearance rate of 62 percent. While these statistics provide a backdrop of the city's challenges with violent crime, they offer no specific insight into the senseless act that took Ms. Perry's life.

As of November 2026, the investigation into Shakisha Perry’s death remains active and ongoing. Homicide detectives have not released any descriptions of a potential shooter or a vehicle that may have been involved in the incident. The case is unsolved, and no arrests have been announced, leaving those who knew and loved Ms. Perry without closure. The search for answers continues, dependent on the painstaking work of law enforcement and the possibility that a member of the community will come forward with a crucial piece of information.

Authorities are urging anyone who knows anything about the shooting on Broadway Street, regardless of how minor the detail may seem, to share what they know. The Baton Rouge Police Department has asked the public to contact the Violent Crimes Unit directly at (225) 389-4869. Alternatively, anonymous tips can be submitted to Capital Region Crime Stoppers at (225) 344-7867.