A tragic shooting at an off campus “house party” has claimed the lives of two Southern University students near Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The shooting occurred at an off campus apartment complex known as Cottages Apartments. The complex is part of American Campus Communities, which specializes in housing for college students. According to witnesses, there have been large parties that have occurred in the complex, which have attracted non-students into the complex. Police and witnesses have stated that a large party was taking place at the apartment clubhouse and a crowd was gathered in the parking lot.
At around 2 a.m., it is alleged that Ernest Bernard Felton, 22, a former Southern University football player, got into a heated verbal exchange with a male occupant in another vehicle. The fight soon escalated to violence as guns were drawn and both parties began to shoot. Caught in the crossfire were Southern University freshman Annette January, 19, sophomore Lashuntae Benton, 19, and a 24-year-old unidentified Black male. January was pronounced dead at the scene and Benton died of her wounds at the hospital. The women were not the intended target in the shooting. Felton was later arrested and charged with attempted second-degree murder and illegal use of a weapon.
The Southern University campus reacted with shock over the deaths of the two bright and well liked students. January was a popular member of the school’s track and field team and a business major and Benton was an athletic trainer and studied sports medicine. Southern University president Ray Belton issued the following statement:
“It is with deep sadness that the University confirms that two Southern University Baton Rouge female student-athletes were killed early Sunday, April 10, 2016. According to law enforcement, freshman track and field athlete Annette January of Gary, Indiana, and sophomore student athletic trainer Lashuntae Benton of Lake Charles, were killed by gunfire outside of an apartment complex in Baton Rouge near LSU, early this morning. An investigation is ongoing. The University asks for prayers and support for the families at this difficult time.”
