Donald Epps

Friends and acquaintances remember Donald Epps as a funny man who “always kept it real.” Known to some by his nickname, "Boobie," he was a father who cared deeply for the people who cared for him. At 40 years old, he was a part of the Baton Rouge community in Louisiana, working at a local restaurant called KOK wings. His life, however, was cut short in a violent act that left questions unanswered and a community in search of justice.

On the morning of Thursday, September 26, 2024, a sense of unease settled over a neighborhood just north of the city's downtown core. Around 11:02 a.m., officers from the Baton Rouge Police Department were dispatched to a residence in the 3300 block of Hollywood Street, a residential road near Longfellow Drive. Inside the home, they made a grim discovery: Donald Epps was deceased. He had been shot.

Homicide detectives were called to the scene, and an official investigation into the shooting began immediately. Police confirmed they were treating the case as a homicide, turning the quiet residential street into an active crime scene. The news of another life lost to gun violence rippled through the city. According to the East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner's Office, Epps's death marked at least the 96th homicide in the parish that year, a sobering statistic for the community.

The Baton Rouge Police Department took charge of the investigation, with homicide detectives leading the effort to piece together the events that led to Donald's death. They processed the scene for evidence and began seeking information from the public. However, details were scarce from the outset. Authorities did not release any information about a potential motive or whether they had identified any persons of interest in the immediate aftermath of the discovery. The circumstances surrounding the shooting remained shrouded in mystery, leaving loved ones and the wider community without a clear understanding of what had happened.

In the days and weeks that followed, no arrests were made, and no suspects were publicly named. The investigation remained active but quiet, with few, if any, public updates. The case joined a list of unsolved homicides in the city, a painful reality for families awaiting answers and accountability. The lack of resolution left a void for those who knew and cared for Donald, their grief compounded by the absence of justice.

As of the latest available information from September 2024, the investigation into the murder of Donald Epps is ongoing. The Baton Rouge Police Department continues to ask for the public's help. Anyone with information that could assist investigators is urged to contact the Violent Crimes Unit at (225) 389-4869 or Crime Stoppers at (225) 344-7867. The case remains open, a painful and unresolved chapter for a family and a community still waiting for answers.