BATON ROUGE, La. — A tragic early morning shooting on Plank Road claimed the life of 36-year-old Jonique Brown after a fight outside a local barbershop escalated into gunfire involving multiple shooters. Baton Rouge Police responded to the 3400 block of Plank Road just before 4 a.m. Sunday, where they found Brown suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Despite attempts by EMS to save her, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators report that the shooting followed a large altercation outside the barbershop, which quickly escalated to multiple rounds being fired. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as patrons and bystanders scrambled for safety. Angela Johnson, 41, who works at an after-hours club catty-corner from the barbershop, recalled hearing over two dozen gunshots just before 4 a.m. She quickly gathered about 30 patrons inside her club and locked the doors to prevent anyone from stepping back into the danger outside.
Johnson described seeing a vehicle riddled with bullet holes parked next to the barbershop after the shooting, which police later towed from the scene. She noted that the stretch of Plank Road has seen an increase in vehicle traffic and violent incidents following the closure of another after-hours club, The Big Blue House, located on South Choctaw Drive.
The closure of The Big Blue House came after a June shooting that resulted in the death of 25-year-old Prenesha Wagner and injuries to five other party-goers. A 15-year-old was later charged with first-degree murder in that incident. Johnson explained that since that closure, crowds and vehicles have shifted to other after-hours venues, contributing to heightened tensions and frequent violent encounters.
Authorities have not released any information about potential suspects in the Plank Road shooting, and the investigation remains ongoing. Police continue to gather evidence, interview witnesses, and review surveillance footage from the area in hopes of identifying those responsible.
The incident highlights ongoing safety concerns around after-hours venues on Plank Road, where large crowds and late-night gatherings have contributed to repeated outbreaks of violence. Community members like Johnson stress that residents and patrons simply want a safe environment to enjoy themselves, but repeated tragedies continue to mar the area.
The Baton Rouge Police Department has urged anyone with information about the shooting to come forward to assist in their investigation.