Matthew Fortenberry

Matthew Fortenberry was an 11-year-old boy from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with a promising life ahead of him. A Black male, Matthew was known as a bright child and a star basketball player for Glen Oaks Park Elementary. Just the week before he was killed, he and his team had won a championship. His father, Michael Fortenberry, said Matthew had a "bright future ahead of him" and that he was preparing to have "teenage talk" with his son, who would have turned 12 that October.

On the evening of March 16, 2023, Matthew was sitting in a vehicle with his mother, Francesca Isaac, and others on Crestway Avenue. According to police, a teenage gunman, who was allegedly feuding with one of Matthew's relatives, held the group captive inside the car in an attempt to draw that person out. When the relative did not appear, Ms. Isaac tried to start the truck. The gunman then moved to Matthew's side of the vehicle and opened fire. Ms. Isaac recalled her son's last words: "mama he shot me." Matthew was rushed to a local hospital, where he died from his gunshot injuries.

Later that night, Baton Rouge police found a 17-year-old suspect on Greenwell Street, also suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to a hospital for treatment. It has not been made public how the suspect was shot. After being released from the hospital, he was taken into custody and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.

The suspect, identified as Kelton Maloid, was charged with one count of first-degree murder for Matthew’s death, four counts of attempted first-degree murder, false imprisonment with a dangerous weapon, and illegal use of a weapon. In December 2023, Maloid appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

In the wake of the tragedy, city leaders and the Baton Rouge community rallied to support Matthew’s grieving family, establishing a fund to help with his funeral expenses. As of his plea in December 2023, the case against Kelton Maloid is pending litigation.