Two Louisiana State University football players were released without charges after claiming the shooting dead of a man on Saturday afternoon was in ‘self-defense’ during an attempted robbery.
Kobe Johnson, 18, was gunned down on the 2900 block of 68th Avenue near Village Street in the Scotlandville neighborhood.
The male was found in the back of a white Chevrolet pickup truck after obtaining multiple gunshot wounds.
Freshman Jared Small and sophomore Clyde Edwards-Helaire, 19, reported the shooting according to WBRZ.
Freshman Jared Small and sophomore Clyde Edwards-Helaire made the call the law enforcement to report a shooting on Saturday around 12.10pm in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
The Louisiana State University football players waited at the scene and were questioned for hours before being released
Small and Edwards-Helaire were taken in for questioning after waiting for law enforcement to arrive on the scene of the deadly incident which took place around 12.10pm in Baton Rouge.
According to police they were attempting to sell an electronic item when they were confronted by a gun-wielding Johnson.
He allegedly demanded they hand over their possessions and one of the athletes responded by shooting Johnson multiple times with a handgun. Johnson died at the scene.
It’s unknown who fired the gun, who owned the weapons, what item was being sold or whether the athletes knew the man who was shot.
They were questioned for several hours before being let go by Baton Rouge police after a review of evidence.
Law enforcement was canvassing the neighborhood for witnesses Saturday night.
Spokesman Sergeant L’Jean McKneely told NOLA.com that the case was still under investigation. He added the outcome ‘appears to be’ resembling self-defense.
An unidentified male was found dead in the back of a pickup after noon
Johnson’s family had not been notified as of 7pm on Saturday. He was not a student-athlete at the college
Small and sophomore Edwards-Helaire were not arrested or charged and their attorney said it was self-defense
Christopher Murell, who is one of three attorneys representing the men, suggested his clients were trying to protect themselves in the incident.
‘We believe this is an act of self-defense and the evidence will show that,’ he told The Advocate on Saturday evening.
Tigers top two running back Edwards-Helaire is a sophomore who graduated from Catholic High in the city.
He has played in all 12 games for the team this season.
Linebacker Small graduated from the same school but is a walk-on player at LSU who has played in four games.
The deceased male was not a student-athlete at LSU it has been confirmed.
LSU said it was focusing on their student-athletes and made counselors available. Tigers top two running back Edwards-Helaire is a sophomore at the college
He has played in all 12 games for the team this season and is scheduled to attend the American college football Playstation Fiesta Bowl in Arizona on January 1
The college said it was cooperating with the investigation and was focusing on their student-athletes for now by making counselors available.
‘We have today been in constant contact with law enforcement regarding this terrible situation,’ LSU Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Joe Alleva said in a statement. ‘Right now, our concern is for the safety and wellbeing of our student-athletes.
‘They have been involved in a traumatic incident and we have made our counselors available to assist immediately. All questions regarding the investigation should be directed to law enforcement at this time.’
The footballers are scheduled to attend the American college football Playstation Fiesta Bowl in Arizona on January 1.
East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar C. Moore III said it was more difficult dealing this type of incident around the holidays.
‘You hate to see anyone hurt, injured, killed, stabbed at any time of year,’ he said. ‘This is going to be difficult on everybody involved,’ Moore told The Advocate.
‘I don’t care which side of this you’re on, what family you are — this has to affect you, it’s going to affect them and it affects this community here,’ Moore said. ‘It’s Christmastime, and it’s something we have to deal with as a community.’