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White Baton Rouge Suspect Is Charged with Murder in Killings of Two Black Men White Baton Rouge Suspect Is Charged With Murder in Killings of Two Black Men
(about 3 hours later)
The police in Baton Rouge, La., have charged a 23-year-old white man in the separate killings of two black men last week.The police in Baton Rouge, La., have charged a 23-year-old white man in the separate killings of two black men last week.
The suspect, Kenneth James Gleason, was charged on Tuesday with two counts of first degree murder in the killings of Bruce Cofield and Donald Smart, as well as two counts of attempted first degree murder in an unrelated shooting, said Sergeant L’Jean McKneely, a spokesman for the Baton Rouge Police Department.The suspect, Kenneth James Gleason, was charged on Tuesday with two counts of first degree murder in the killings of Bruce Cofield and Donald Smart, as well as two counts of attempted first degree murder in an unrelated shooting, said Sergeant L’Jean McKneely, a spokesman for the Baton Rouge Police Department.
Mr. Cofield was shot on Sept. 12, and Mr. Smart on Sept. 14. The men were killed in a similar manner, with a gunman first shooting from a vehicle and then exiting the car, standing over the victims and shooting multiple times, Mr. McKneely said.Mr. Cofield was shot on Sept. 12, and Mr. Smart on Sept. 14. The men were killed in a similar manner, with a gunman first shooting from a vehicle and then exiting the car, standing over the victims and shooting multiple times, Mr. McKneely said.
The police, including Mr. McKneely, said last week that they believed that the killings may have been racially motivated. Mr. McKneeley said Tuesday that the explanation had not been ruled out, but that it was speculative and that Mr. Gleason still needed to be questioned.The police, including Mr. McKneely, said last week that they believed that the killings may have been racially motivated. Mr. McKneeley said Tuesday that the explanation had not been ruled out, but that it was speculative and that Mr. Gleason still needed to be questioned.
The attempted murder charges stemmed from an episode on Sept. 11 in which a house close to where Mr. Gleason lives was shot at three times, Mr. McKneely said. Two people were in the house at the time. Neither was injured.The attempted murder charges stemmed from an episode on Sept. 11 in which a house close to where Mr. Gleason lives was shot at three times, Mr. McKneely said. Two people were in the house at the time. Neither was injured.
Mr. Gleason was arrested Saturday on unrelated drug charges — possession of marijuana and human growth hormones — and was questioned about the killings.Mr. Gleason was arrested Saturday on unrelated drug charges — possession of marijuana and human growth hormones — and was questioned about the killings.
He posted $3,500 bail and was released Sunday, the police said. He was arrested again on Monday after being accused of petty theft.He posted $3,500 bail and was released Sunday, the police said. He was arrested again on Monday after being accused of petty theft.
Finally, on Tuesday, after the police had recovered DNA evidence from the shell casings at one of the crime scenes linked to Mr. Gleason, he was charged in the killings, Mr. McKneely said.Finally, on Tuesday, after the police had recovered DNA evidence from the shell casings at one of the crime scenes linked to Mr. Gleason, he was charged in the killings, Mr. McKneely said.
Baton Rouge’s interim police chief, Johnny Dunnam, said at a news conference that Mr. Gleason would have likely killed again had he not been arrested. That would have further strained race relations in a community that was roiled by the fatal police shooting of Alton Sterling, a black man, in 2016.Baton Rouge’s interim police chief, Johnny Dunnam, said at a news conference that Mr. Gleason would have likely killed again had he not been arrested. That would have further strained race relations in a community that was roiled by the fatal police shooting of Alton Sterling, a black man, in 2016.
“He could have potentially created a tear in the fabric that holds this community together,” Chief Dunnam said.“He could have potentially created a tear in the fabric that holds this community together,” Chief Dunnam said.
Hillar C. Moore III, the district attorney of East Baton Rouge, detailed the evidence against Mr. Gleason at length during the news conference. The case against him relied on his past purchases of guns and video evidence and witness accounts indicating that he had handled guns between the shootings. Mr. Moore said that it was “surely a potential death penalty case.”Hillar C. Moore III, the district attorney of East Baton Rouge, detailed the evidence against Mr. Gleason at length during the news conference. The case against him relied on his past purchases of guns and video evidence and witness accounts indicating that he had handled guns between the shootings. Mr. Moore said that it was “surely a potential death penalty case.”
The crime lab had been fortunate to recover DNA evidence from the shell casings linking Mr. Gleason to the shootings, he added.The crime lab had been fortunate to recover DNA evidence from the shell casings linking Mr. Gleason to the shootings, he added.
Mr. Cofield, 59, who the police believed was homeless, was shot to death at about 11 p.m. near the center of Baton Rouge. He was found dead in the street.Mr. Cofield, 59, who the police believed was homeless, was shot to death at about 11 p.m. near the center of Baton Rouge. He was found dead in the street.
Mr. Smart, 49, was killed at about the same time two days later while walking to his job as a dishwasher at Louie’s Cafe, a popular diner near the Louisiana State University campus in the southwest part of the city. The Advocate reported that he was married with three children.Mr. Smart, 49, was killed at about the same time two days later while walking to his job as a dishwasher at Louie’s Cafe, a popular diner near the Louisiana State University campus in the southwest part of the city. The Advocate reported that he was married with three children.
The killing of Mr. Sterling by the police last summer led to sustained protests in Baton Rouge. In May, the Justice Department said that the police officers involved in that shooting would not face federal charges.The killing of Mr. Sterling by the police last summer led to sustained protests in Baton Rouge. In May, the Justice Department said that the police officers involved in that shooting would not face federal charges.