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Police arrest suspect in killing of panhandler at Baton Rouge shopping center
BATON ROUGE- Baton Rouge Police arrested a person accused of gunning down another man in a popular shopping center parking lot over the weekend.
The department announced Thursday (August 27) it had taken Jace Boyd, 24, into custody on charges of second-degree murder and illegal use of a weapon.
On Tuesday, several days after the shooting, the department issued an arrest warrant for Boyd. The WBRZ Investigative Unit was at his house the next day and was told by two females there he was upstairs.
"Had he been black, his mother's house would have been searched, the door would have been kicked in," said Ryan Thompson, the attorney representing Danny Buckley's family. "They probably would have called the SWAT team in and had him come out. We know disparities, the bias, difference in treatment."
The incident happened Saturday, leading to the death of 61-year-old Danny Buckley in the Trader Joe's Parking lot on Perkins Road. The Business Report cited sources earlier this week saying Buckley was panhandling and that the gun may have been fired in self-defense.
The announcement of criminal charges came amid mounting pressure for the department to look deeper into the killing, which did not lead to an arrest on the night of the shooting.
Tuesday the mayor-president released a statement calling for a fair investigation.
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"I am very concerned about the incident that occurred this past weekend outside of a local business, and I am still gathering information from the public and law enforcement. The situation is still under investigation and I have spoken with Chief Murphy Paul and asked him to conduct a fair and transparent review of what happened. I appreciate the citizens who have come forward with information thus far, and welcome any other information citizens might have. Every citizen deserves to be treated justly, and I promise to the residents of East Baton Rouge Parish that this investigation will be conducted fairly."
WBRZ was informed on Thursday, September 3 that Boyd was released from East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.
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