BATON ROUGE — The East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner's Office said that a 15-year-old boy was found shot to death early Thursday morning in the Southdowns neighborhood. 

Suhib Yousef's body was found in the middle of Poplar Street near Lee Drive around 2 a.m. on Thursday. People in the area initially thought the teen was struck by a car, but it was later learned that he was shot and killed, Baton Rouge Police said.

Security video from the scene shows Yousef taking out the trash late Wednesday night before an SUV pulled up to him, at which point he walked to the driver's window and was dragged more than 250 yards down the road. 

Around 11 p.m., his body was found by police along Stuart Avenue with a gunshot wound to the neck. 

Police are investigating the shooting as a homicide, but have not yet identified a suspect or motive. 

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BATON ROUGE — Baton Rouge Pride Fest is returning to the Raising Cane's River Center Arena on Saturday.

The festival runs from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., with doors opening at 11:30 a.m.

Along with pop artist and LGBTQ+ advocate David Archuleta, the lineup includes performances by The Specs, a Greek Showcase, an all-star production of Baton Rouge's Drag Queens Finest and a drag king showcase featuring performers traveling from across the country.

The event is presented by AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Open Health Care Clinic and Whittington Family Fund. L'Auberge Casino and Hotel Baton Rouge sponsors the event's entertainment.

Attendees can expect Drag Queen Story Time, interactive family programming, community resources, educational outreach, local artists, food vendors and LGBTQ+ affirming organizations from across the region.

"Baton Rouge Pride is about visibility, celebration and creating spaces where everyone feels welcome," organizers said. "This year's lineup reflects the diversity and energy of our community while continuing our commitment to keeping Baton Rouge Pride Fest accessible and family-friendly."

The event is open to the public at no cost and welcomes LGBTQ+ individuals, allies, families and supporters from across Louisiana and beyond.

Learn more here.

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South Louisiana gets a break from widespread rain this weekend, but the heat will steadily ramp up with heat index values nearing 108 degrees by Sunday and early next week. The next better chance for heavy rain and a few strong storms arrives by the middle of next week. 

Today and tonight: Friday will feature a typical summer pattern with a mix of sun and clouds, hot and humid conditions, and only an isolated afternoon thunderstorm. High temperatures will climb into the lower 90s with most communities staying dry through the day. Tonight will be warm and muggy with lows in the mid to upper 70s. Patchy clouds will linger, but most areas remain dry overnight.

Use the slider to advance through the next 24 hours of Futurecast

Up Next: Temperatures and humidity will continue climbing Saturday before heat index values reach around 105 to 108 degrees on Sunday. Rain chances remain low through the weekend, although a few isolated afternoon thunderstorms are still possible. Because storms will be limited in number, any storm that does develop could briefly become strong with gusty winds.

Looking ahead, a more active weather pattern develops Tuesday through Thursday as deeper tropical moisture returns. That will increase the threat for showers and thunderstorms, and a few strong to severe storms. Forecast guidance suggests rainfall rates could exceed 2 inches per hour in the heaviest storms, especially by the middle of next week.

Tropics: The National Hurricane Center is not expecting tropical cyclone development anywhere in the Atlantic, Caribbean, or Gulf during the next seven days. 

Get the latest 7-day forecast and real-time weather updates HERE.

Watch live news HERE.

– Dave

The Storm Station is here for you, on every platform. Your weather updates can be found on News 2, wbrz.com, and the WBRZ WX App on your Apple or Android device. Follow WBRZ Weather on Facebook and X for even more weather updates while you are on the go.

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NEW ORLEANS – Louisiana State Police has issued a Silver Alert for a 74-year-old man last seen along Charles Street in New Orleans on Thursday night. 

Robert “Bob” Atkinson was last seen in the 800 block of Chartres Street around 7:30 p.m. The New Orleans Police Department requested a Silver Alert at approximately 11:32 p.m.

Atkinson is a white male with blue eyes and gray hair. He is 5’8” and weighs approximately 225 pounds, and was last seen wearing a light blue shirt, dark blue shorts, brown shoes and a camouflage army hat with a yellow star in the middle. Family says Atkinson has a medical condition that may impair his judgment.

Atkinson is believed to be walking on foot in an unknown direction.

Anyone with information about Atkinson is asked to immediately call the New Orleans Police Department at (504) 821-2222 or dial 911.

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Welcome to your Team 2 Traffic morning commute guide. This story will be updated as traffic occurs in and around the capital area to help you know what to expect on the roads each day.

The main Plaquemine ferry is in service 4:30am- 7:45pm. A second ferry runs from 5:15- 9am and 3:15- 7pm

6:40a: Accident in right lane in off ramp in Port Allen on I 10 WB off-ramp to LA-1/Port Allen/Plaquemine/Exit 153; CLEARED

7:05a: Accident in East Baton Rouge on Airline Hwy at Florida Blvd; CLEARED

8a: Accident. Right lane blocked in Baton Rouge on I-12 WB at Essen Lane/LA 3064/Exit 1B; CLEARED

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GONZALES — Dozens of people gathered in Ascension Parish to celebrate America's 250th anniversary at the fourth annual Stars and Stripes celebration.

The free event kicked off at the Conway neighborhood in Gonzales. Guests enjoyed live music, food, vendors and activities for the whole family.

Organizers say they wanted to bring the community together while honoring the nation's legacy.

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DONALDSONVILLE — Residents gathered for a town hall on Thursday to discuss pushing for a Community Benefits Agreement with Hyundai over an incoming steel mill.

The event was hosted by Good Neighbors Louisiana, a coalition formed by 13 to 15 organizations. The group wants written commitments from Hyundai that include local hiring, community investment, protections for homes and land, and permits that prioritize cleaner technology.

Glenn Price, a resident and member of the Sunrise Community Group, said the goal is to hold Hyundai accountable to any promises made.

"A CBA means that you're going to sign off on what you're going to do for our community," Price said. "If you're willing, saying you're willing to provide so many jobs for our community, great. If you're saying that you're going to put so much money into our community, that's great, but we want you to put that in writing. Too many times we've been promised, and promises have been broken."

Kelvin Wells, an industrial organizer with Sierra Club's Delta Chapter, said the coalition has been working on this effort for more than a year and has already hand-delivered a letter to Hyundai outlining their demands.

Wells said the steel mill project totals $5.8 billion, with $2.6 billion coming from taxpayer money. He said that public investment is part of why the community deserves a binding agreement.

"What we don't want is the sort of parasitic relationship that we've seen before between corporations and the community, especially corporations like these that get billions of dollars in tax breaks, over years and years, and the community suffers and pines away. So that's what we don't want."Wells said,

The project has also sparked new business interest in the city, including plans for a Korean BBQ restaurant and a Lemon Tree Coffee Shop. Organizers said they support that growth but want the community to have a say in what it looks like.

"If they're going to come to build a facility that runs on green and renewable energy, to build a facility that's safe, to employ people that are from here, and also, again, to reinvest and build up the community around it, as opposed to being a leech, a parasite on the community. And we want that in writing. And that's the only way we believe that this is going to work out," Wells said.

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BATON ROUGE - LSU softball head coach Beth Torina continued her efforts in the transfer portal by picking up commitments from Madison and Mackenzie Pickens.

Madison Pickens comes to LSU from Louisville, and Mackenzie Pickens comes in from Ole Miss. The sisters played their sophomore season last year. Mackenzie Pickens hit .271 last season with 11 home runs, including one against LSU when the Rebels came to Baton Rouge.

Madison Pickens enjoyed a very good sophomore season at the plate. She led the Cardinals in batting average, RBIs, slugging percentage, and tied for the team lead in home runs. Pickens was also first-team All-ACC.

Along with Notre Dame Outfielder Mickey Winchell, Torina has added three players from the transfer portal so far this season. With the Tigers losing center fielder Jalia Lassiter, it seems that Torina is intent on rebuilding her outfield.

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CENTRAL - The WBRZ Investigative Unit obtained documents from the Central Police Department detailing disputes between Pastor Tony Spell, his wife and his neighbors.

Spell, the main pastor of Life Tabernacle Church on Hooper Road, was arrested by deputies after an altercation. He said he was working on a church bus when he heard the neighbor's son yelling from outside their home across the road. 

"He said, 'Tony, I'm gonna rape your wife, I'm gonna rape all of your grandchildren,' and he said, 'The next time you go out of town, I'm gonna kill them, and what the F are you going to do about it?" Spell said. 

The Sherwins' cameras captured Tuesday's altercation. WBRZ obtained a clearer and closer view of the fight. During the video, Spell can be heard screaming what sounds like, “I’m going to break your neck!"

The pastor can also be seen on top of the 20-year-old alleged victim and turning his head aggressively. 

One complaint, which was filed in May 2026, detailed Spell's wife, Shaye Spell, telling police that in March, Luke Sherwin "flipped [her] off" before getting in his truck and following her as she drove. Sherwin allegedly rolled down his window, started yelling obscenities and acted as though he was getting out of his truck at the light. 

In a second incident, Shaye Spell told police that as she and her husband left their driveway, Sherwin was "flipping [them] off" and grabbing his crotch. She said as the two drove, they noticed Sherwin's truck approaching their rear bumper before swerving to pass them and driving in their lane.

She said that the truck crossed in front of them, crossed three lanes and turned left onto another road as it almost hit their vehicle.

Police said they talked to Scott Sherwin in May 2026 to follow up on their previous investigation. The officer told Sherwin to advise his son, who wasn't there, not follow or contact Shaye Spell. The officer said while talking with Sherwin, a white pickup parked in the church; Spell and his wife ran out of the vehicle with their phone cameras toward Sherwin and the officer, the document said.

The groups began yelling and gesturing at each other. The officer told Tony Spell to get back in his truck and Scott Sherwin to "calm down" and stop making gestures toward the pastor. No further action was taken.

Another report was filed in 2023, with documents saying Shaye Spell accused "their neighbor across the street" of moving traffic cones to block the church's entrance. Richard Sherwin provided police with footage showing a construction company putting down the cones while repairing the highway; the footage also showed Shaye Spell and one of her security officers moving the cones.

Tony Spell bonded out of East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on Tuesday evening. 

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BATON ROUGE - After a 2-8 2025 season, the McKinley Panthers football program made a move at head coach and brought in Marc Brown from Baker. Coach Brown inherits a roster with talent, but also one that has a few question marks.

Four members of last year's offensive line return for this season, and Chase Williams is back at running back behind that front. Coach Brown expects the o-line to be the strength of his team.

On defense, the Panthers bring back five starters from 2025, but they'll look completely different in the linebacker room.  The main concern Brown had was if his roster could stay healthy and withstand the physicality of a District 6 schedule in 4A.

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BATON ROUGE - You may know 13th Gate for its nationally recognized haunted attraction, but beyond Halloween, the venue offers a year-round adventure that challenges visitors to think fast, work together, and solve their way out.

13th Gate Escape features eight immersive escape rooms, each with its own storyline, theme, and level of difficulty. From haunted asylums to ancient Mayan caverns, every room is designed to make guests feel like they've stepped into another world.

"We want to give people experiences so they feel like they're walking through a door and going to a whole different world," said Escape Manager Jeremy Scheel.

Unlike traditional escape rooms, the environments are built to resemble movie-quality sets. Hidden passageways, moving walls, secret doors, and interactive elements transform the experience as players uncover clues and advance through the game.

Teams work against the clock to solve puzzles and unlock new areas before time runs out. According to Scheel, the attraction offers three beginner rooms, four intermediate rooms, and one expert-level challenge he calls the "brain crusher."

The escape rooms have also earned national recognition. Scheel said Cut Throat Cavern was voted the No. 1 escape game in the United States and No. 2 in the world in 2018.

Whether it's your first escape room or your fiftieth, each game offers a different storyline, new puzzles and unexpected twists.

13th Gate Escape is open seven days a week. Guests have one hour to solve the clues and escape before the clock runs out.

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BATON ROUGE - When the dust settled on the line-item vetoes released by Gov. Jeff Landry, the New Orleans area saw the most impact, with most of the vetoes involving projects or issues centered in the Crescent City; still, the capital city also caught the governor’s knife.

During the legislative session, a group of bills addressed state finances and statewide spending projects, and HB 312 makes supplemental, one-time appropriations for next year.

Across the state, money remains tight, and few understand budgeting quite like Baton Rouge City Constable Terrica Williams, who said the equipment her team relies on can often be unreliable.

Since taking on the leadership role in 2019, Williams said she has been slowly replacing clunky computers and other out-of-date equipment. The bus used to transport inmates back and forth is also nearly 20 years old.

While the city-parish approved raises for the office, those raises don’t cover the cost of updates. Williams said the cost of replacing equipment and paying her understaffed team quickly adds up.

Williams says she contacted local representatives and worked to secure additional funding from the state, instead of the city of Baton Rouge, which also struggles with a tight budget. The City Court of Baton Rouge requested $75,000 for the constable’s office for acquisitions and equipment purchases.

The legislature approved the request, but this week, Gov. Landry vetoed that particular item.

The governor also denied half a million dollars for the Baton Rouge Mentorship program 29:11 Academy, $125,000 to Port Allen’s Youth Village Restoration Center, Inc., for operating expenses, and $50,000 to the McKinley High School Alumni Association for the Alumni Center for operational support and preservation services.

He also vetoed $18 million from the Capital Outlay for a new development on Harding Boulevard, the Advocate reported.

The Louisiana Black Caucus objected to the vetoed items, saying the decisions "represent a deliberate step backward for working families and historically underserved communities."

Williams said her office did receive additional funding from the state, but was hopeful that this amount would help cover the cost of modernizing her office.

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BATON ROUGE — A judge whose son is a convicted serial rapist will still preside over the trial of a man who is accused of raping Madison Brooks despite the state's second request for her recusal. 

Judge Gail Horne Ray will continue to handle the trial of Casen Carver, a 22-year-old from Denham Springs who was 18 when he was indicted with first-degree rape, third-degree rape and video voyeurism, after the state's second request for recusal was denied.

WBRZ previously reported Brooks left Reggie's bar in Tigerland with Carver, Everett Lee, Kaivon Washington and Desmond Carter on Jan. 15, 2023. The group went to a parking lot, where Washington and Carter are accused of raping Brooks in the backseat of Carver's vehicle. The men told officers that Brooks requested to go home and they dropped her off in the Pelican Lakes subdivision.

After they left, Brooks wandered into the roadway and was hit and killed by a rideshare driver. Arrest documents said Brooks' blood alcohol content was .319 percent, and she had physical injuries consistent with rape. 

Carver is charged with rape, although there is no evidence that he had sex with Brooks. The law says first-degree rape occurs when two or more offenders take part. In its definition of "participation," the law notes both taking part in the actual rape or "physically assist in the commission of such act."

Through the legal battle, the state moved to have Ray removed from the trial. In Nov. 2025, Ray was recused in the case. District Attorney Hillar Moore's office filed the recusal.

He said the request was due to previous rulings and the judge seeing evidence related to Brooks' sexual history that was thrown out, but the document included text messages from Carver to his father, saying the judge's "son was accused of rape a while back so she knows to help us." Ray's son, Nelson Dan Taylor, admitted to raping six of his classmates at Baton Rouge High School between October 1995 and April 1996. 

Excerpt from reasons for and order on motion to recuse 

Carver's attorney appealed the decision, but the First Circuit Court of Appeals said Ray's rulings and her exposure of impertinent information about Brooks' sexual history wouldn't justify recusal, but leaving her off the case was still the best way forward.

The defense pushed the appeal to the State Supreme Court, which ruled that Ray could stay, and the state did not meet its burden for removal. The state requested a rehearing, which was declined. 

Now, Carver's attorney Joe Long has filed a motion for a speedy trial. 

"We look forward to a swift trial date so that my client can have his day in Court and the people will clearly see his innocence regarding these charges. Let the facts and evidence, not passion and emotion, decide this case," Long said. 

Carver is due back in court on Monday. 

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BATON ROUGE - A man was arrested in a 1987 stabbing after DNA results identified him as a suspect, the Baton Rouge Police Department said.

Thomas Klotz, 45, was in Baton Rouge working with a local radio station when he was found dead in a hotel room on April 19, 1987. Officials at the time determined Klotz was stabbed to death.

Sean Atkinson, 62, was arrested in Mobile, Alabama after evidence from the crime scene in 1987 was submitted for DNA analysis. Atkinson is awaiting extradition back to Baton Rouge.

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BATON ROUGE — After it unanimously passed through the Louisiana Legislature, Gov. Jeff Landry vetoed a bill that would have designated the Atlantic tarpon as a Louisiana saltwater game fish.

Advocates of the bill say they simply wanted protections for a "declining species," with Louisiana being the lone holdout of the Gulf Coast states to not designate tarpon as a saltwater game fish. 

Tarpon, also known as the "silver king," is a widely sought-after sport fish across the Gulf Coast region. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries lists it as "vulnerable" and "at moderate risk" of going extinct in the state, two levels below "critically imperiled" species. 

House Bill 688 by Rep. Joseph Orgeron, R-Cut Off, would have added tarpon to the Sportsman's Paradise's list of saltwater game fish, which currently includes sailfish, five types of marlin and red drum.

“It is difficult to understand why we would not want the same protections for tarpon as already apply to so many species in Louisiana waters," Louisiana Wildlife Federation Executive Director Rebecca Trice said in a press release on Thursday. 

Landry vetoed HB 688 on June 12, calling it "a solution in search of a problem."

"I can discern no corresponding conservation benefit in this designation," Landry said in a veto letter. "There is no real harvest pressure on tarpon, and nothing in the science suggests we need new limits or restrictions to protect them. Louisiana's anglers do not need more regulatory hurdles for their recreational activities."

Landry added that the legislation could lead to regulations on the number and size of tarpons that Louisiana anglers could catch.

"For tarpon, none of that would provide a real benefit, but it could limit our sportsman's time on the water," Landry wrote. 

LWF Advocacy Director Rick Owens disagreed with the governor's veto message, saying that the bill would have corrected a common misconception. 

“Many people in Louisiana believe tarpon is already being monitored and managed in Louisiana but it is not,” Owens said. “While the veto message frames HB 688 as unnecessary regulation, the bill did not create any new recreational limits, seasons, reporting requirements, or gear restrictions."

Landry ended his veto message by promising to keep fighting for the accessibility and abundance of Louisiana's fisheries.

"I'm always willing to support more research when there's a real need, but I'm not willing to add
red tape just for the sake of doing something," Landry said. 

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BATON ROUGE — Potholes are appearing more frequently on local roads following last week's rain, and city crews are working to keep up with repairs.

Experts say this kind of increase is common during the summer.

For Baton Rouge resident Stephen Nichols, the potholes have become a regular part of the drive. He says avoiding them isn't always easy, whether on neighborhood streets or major roads.

"There are a lot of potholes, and sometimes it rattles my new car, and I'm thinking it's going to rattle it apart because of the potholes," Nichols said.

"Because that becomes dangerous when you have to drive around it and you have to drive into the other lane so it's really kind of dangerous," he said.

William Daniel from the mayor's office explained how potholes form. "Well, a pothole is when a portion of the road, the top portion, breaks up and leaves a hole down to the base of the street," Daniel said.

Daniel says water from heavy rain can seep into cracks in the pavement. As vehicles continue driving over those weakened areas, potholes can form more quickly.

For drivers, that can mean a rough ride and potential damage to their vehicles. "I'd describe them as being really awful because it's hard to steer around them because the lanes are narrow and you have to go through them," Nichols said.

The city says crews are working to address the problem. "We're taking care of them pretty much as fast as we're getting called in," Daniel said.

Residents who spot a pothole can report it to the city's Pothole Posse by dialing 311.

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BATON ROUGE - Former State Sen. Bodi White is remembering the life of a father and daughter-in-law who were killed in a Sunday afternoon crash in downtown Baton Rouge. 

Robert Tarver, 94, and his daughter-in-law Carla Tarver, 69, died as a result a crash after investigators said an impaired driver ran a red light and crashed into their truck on Main Street near the I-110 overpass.

"It's always tough to lose a friend, but to lose a friend like this," White said.

White grew up with Carla and other members of the Tarver family, attending Central High School with them. He described the loss as deeply felt across the community.

"Went to school with them. We played ball together. Carla was a dancer on the dance team. It's been quite a shock to the community. They have been very much involved in the community," White said.

Baton Rouge Police believe a Ford F-250 driven by former LSU football player Richard Murphy was the driver of the other vehicle. A blood test showed Murphy was above the legal limit at the time of the crash.

A third person in the vehicle, Carla's husband Bobby Tarver, who is Robert's son, survived and was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Bobby remains hospitalized and has already undergone multiple surgeries for serious head injuries he suffered in the crash.

"I think now the focus will be to try to lift up Bobby and try to get him out the hospital," White said.

Investigators expect Murphy to turn himself in by next week on two vehicular homicide charges, among other charges.

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ROSELAND — A man arrived at an emergency room with multiple gunshot wounds on Wednesday afternoon, and the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office is working to identify who shot him.

TPSO said the 21-year-old man was in critical but stable condition on Thursday. 

Deputies said the shooting happened along Sawdust Lane in Roseland. Investigators believe the man met up with a group of people and, "at some point, shots were fired."

No additional injuries were reported.

TPSO asks anyone with information about the shooting to contact its criminal investigations division or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers. 

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With daily showers and thunderstorms becoming the exception rather than the rule, temperatures are set to climb. Triple-digit heat indices will be common by late weekend.

Weekend Sizzle: several highs in the mid-90s, heat alerts possible

Dusty Tropics: Saharan layer stops tropical development, brings colorful sunsets

Next Boost in T-Storms: isolated afternoon activity by the middle of next week

Tonight & Tomorrow: Skies will clear out overnight as low temperatures reach for the mid 70s. Friday will bring plenty of sunshine with highs in the low 90s. There is just a tiny 10% chance of a stray afternoon shower.

The first major Saharan dust plume will track across the Atlantic Basin and toward the Gulf Coast. This dry air mass acts as a natural shield against tropical development by choking out the moisture that storms need to grow and thrive. Additionally, dust particles create hazy daytime skies before scattering the light rays to produce vivid, fiery-orange sunsets. Haze was already noticed across the region on Thursday. Sometimes, the dust concentrations can be thick enough to lower air quality so that potential health issues will need to be monitored for anyone with a breathing sensitivity.

Up Next: A ridge of high pressure in the atmosphere will tighten its grip on the region this weekend into next week. The ridge overhead results in warm, sinking air that squashes most thunderstorm development and causes warmer temperatures. Afternoons will soar into the mid 90s. Since the region is so green and wet from recent heavy rain, the air will feel extra thick as lush plants release moisture into the atmosphere in a process known as evapotranspiration. The heat and humidity combination will result in feels-like temperatures between 108 – 112 degrees, especially on Sunday and Monday. The National Weather Service (NWS) may need to issue heat alerts.

By Tuesday and Wednesday, that ridge will finally shift northward toward the Ohio River Valley. This movement will allow small "ripples" in the atmosphere to slide into our area, lifting the air and boosting daily rain coverage back up to 30%. These isolated, afternoon thunderstorms will bring some relief from the heat.

Get the latest 7-day forecast and real-time weather updates HERE.

Watch live news HERE.

The Tropics: For the North Atlantic, Gulf and Caribbean, all is quiet. No development is expected over the next seven days.

– Josh 

The Storm Station is here for you, on every platform. Your weather updates can be found on News 2, wbrz.com, and the WBRZ WX App on your Apple or Android device. Follow WBRZ Weather on Facebook and X for even more weather updates while you are on the go.

 

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DENHAM SPRINGS - A Denham Springs man was sentenced to 30 months in prison after being convicted of assaulting a postal employee.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Cody Gaspard, 27, of Denham Springs approached a United States Postal Service worker delivering mail in Livingston Parish. Gaspard allegedly began using aggressive and racially charged language before intimidating, assaulting and physically confronting the postal worker, causing bodily injury to the employee. 

The assault ended only after another resident intervened to help the mail carrier escape.

Gaspard was found guilty of this crime after a three-day jury trial in March 2026.

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