Man charged with attempted murder after July 4 shooting in Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — East Baton Rouge Parish deputies have arrested and charged a 21-year-old man with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated criminal damage to property after he allegedly shot at a father and his two kids on the Fourth of July.

Deputies responded to reports of gunfire in the 1700 block of Gardere Lane. Surveillance footage from a nearby business showed a 2025 Honda Civic pulling into the parking lot. The suspect, later identified as James Washington, was seen exiting the vehicle with a rifle, entering a store, and then returning to the car.

Moments later, the victim’s vehicle arrived and parked nearby. As the victim, his two children, and another adult walked back to their car, the Honda Civic began to drive off, then opened fire on the group. A bystander sitting in a nearby vehicle was shot during the gunfire.

During the investigation, detectives connected Washington to a 2023 arrest from a prior traffic stop. He was reportedly wearing the same necklace in both incidents and had the same address.

Washington has been booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.

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