BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — East Baton Rouge city leaders announce the creation of a funeral expense fund for a child who was fatally shot on Thursday, March 16.
Matthew Fortenberry, 11 years old, was a member of the Glen Oaks Park Elementary School basketball team. Fortenberry and his teammates won their basketball championship game, suppose to be honored on Wednesday night metro council meeting.
Instead, his parents and Baton Rouge city leaders announced the funeral expense fund for the 11-year-old.
The shooting took place around 6:45 p.m. in the 5600 block of Crestway Avenue. According to investigators, the 17-year-old suspect held the family hostage inside their vehicle. Baton Rouge police said that Fortenberry was found seated inside a vehicle and died later at a local hospital.
BRPD said the suspect was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison and charged with first-degree murder, four counts of attempted first-degree murder, false imprisonment with a dangerous weapon, and illegal discharge of a firearm.
Matthews’s Father, Michael Fortenberry, and his mother, Francesca Isaac, were both in tears standing at the podium during the press conference.
“He had perfect grades, the last thing he told me was, ‘dad I got my grades good,’” said Michael Fortenberry.
Matthew’s father planned on surprising his son with a play station 5 for his grades over the weekend before the murder happened.
“I’m not going to be the only father up here and I probably won’t be the last”, said Fortenberry adding, “We have to put the guns down. It has to stop.”
District Attorney Hillar Moore, Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome, and Councilman Darryl Hurst announced Wednesday the Matthew Fortenberry Funeral Expense Fund with b1Bank. The fund was established to assist the family with the funeral expenses for Fortenberry.
“We can not let this senseless violence in our city continue to claim the lives of our children and loved ones,” said Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome.
District Attorney Hillar Moore said in the press conference that the number of homicides in Baton Rouge has been declining compared to last year’s numbers. That’s according to the BRPD crime statistics, found here.
Moore continued to discuss how parents need to stop being “friends” with their children and need more parental guidance. Moore called Matthews’s case a “bad event” for the city.
“It’s a shame that in our country in our city, particularly, that young black men die at the hands of a weapon, more so than any type of disease,” said Moore.
Councilman Darryl Hurst hugged Matthew’s father, telling him he is making it his mission to not Matthews’s name go unknown.
“Matthew Lost will not go in vain,” said Councilman Hurst. “We will do everything we can to continue his legacy.”
Husrt said that a parade will be held on Saturday, April 29th to remember Matthew’s Legacy.
Donations to the Matthew Fortenberry Funeral Expense Fund can be made at any b1Bank location. Cash and checks are accepted. Locate the nearest b1Bank by calling 877-614-7600 or visiting the b1BANK website.
BRPD is still seeking a motive in this deadly shooting. An investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers at 225-344-7867.
Leave a Reply