DA says LSU student’s murder appears to be ‘random’, as locals speculate it was gang initiation
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Prosecutors believe a Louisiana State University student shot in her head was randomly murdered — as rumors circulate locally that the murder may have been part of a gang initiation.
Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore said in a recent… interview with WBRZ that the motive for Allison Rice’s shooting, which took place on Sept. 16 while the LSU student was sitting in her car at a railroad crossing, remains a mystery.
He admitted, “This seems to be a totally isolated, random act.”
Moore was asked Tuesday about allegations within the local community that the 21-year-old’s death was “part of a gang initiation.” But he was unable to clarify those allegations.
Baton Rouge DA Hillar Moore spoke to WBRZ on Tuesday about the ‘random’ shooting of 21-year-old Louisiana State University student Allie Rice
“It’s way too early to say. We never want to come out with the evidence and facts of the case.
“That’s not something that stands out to me as a person who has been doing this for years.” Moore told WBRZ’s Chris Nakamoto during an interview Tuesday.
He could provide no further insight into the why of the tragedy.
No arrests have been made, although local police say they have been inundated with tips about possible identities of the killers. It remains unclear how credible these tips are.
Allie Rice celebrated her 21st birthday in May, according to a post on her Instagram
Baton Rouge Police Department officials also echoed Moore’s statement, telling the Louisiana news station that they found no evidence that the LSU student was targeted by her attacker just months after graduating.
The DA also stated that several federal law enforcement agencies have been called in to work on the case, including the FBI, DEA and the ATF.
“Everything that can possibly be done is done by every agency, regardless of the initials after their names,” Moore said.
The new information caused Allie’s family to redouble their plea to the public.
“I just hope someone speaks up, someone who knows something, someone who was here in this area,” said Paul Rice, Allie’s father. “If you see anything, call the police, call crime stoppers, call someone. Tell someone, call me.’
Allie’s family spoke to WBRZ about the brutal murder on September 16
The devastated father said earlier this week that he believes the shooting was a case where his daughter was “in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Paul also said his daughter had no enemies and that the family does not believe she was being “stalked.”
Paul Rice, Allison Rice’s father, has said the news of her untimely death has devastated the family
The Louisiana State University senior was on his way home from a night out with friends and was shot and killed near the track around 2:30 a.m. Friday.
She was found in her bullet-ridden car in Baton Rouge after partying with friends at a bar on Government Street, less than five minutes from where she was murdered.
Speak with Fox newsPaul said, ‘She’s not one to have enemies. We don’t think she was stalked or followed.
“That particular area of Baton Rouge has a history of this kind of activity.”
“It should never have happened, this shouldn’t have happened, it shouldn’t have happened.
‘She’s a beautiful child. She had one year left to graduate from LSU, her whole future ahead of her.
“When you hear the policeman’s words say, ‘She’s with the coroner now, she didn’t make it.’ They are the most devastating words you can ever hear.”
Allison Rice, 21, had studied marketing at Louisiana State University and was preparing for an internship for her tragic murder
Friends and family have paid tribute to her, as well as her favorite snacks, in the street where she was shot
A cross with Allie’s face in the middle is nailed into a telephone pole near where the student was murdered
Allison had tried to turn around at the tracks when she was shot multiple times through her windshield.
Friends and family paid tribute to her, as well as her favorite snacks, on the street where she was shot, and also put a cross on her face on a telephone pole.
The first time Paul knew something was wrong was at 4:45 a.m. when the police knocked on his door to tell him that his daughter had been the victim of a shooting.
He said, ‘We woke up to our dogs barking and the doorbell ringing. Police showed up in the neighborhood in the middle of the night for various reasons.
‘But when they asked, ‘Are you Allison’s father, can we please come in?’ you knew in that moment it was going to be something terrible. I could never have imagined that the news would be what it was.
Police rushed to the scene after witnesses reported hearing multiple shots around 2:30 a.m. Friday
Police arrived at the scene around 2:30 am and all that was left later that morning was a pile of broken glass after her car was removed
“All I can really think at this point is that it’s a bad case of the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Officers have not yet identified a suspect in the murder and are yet to find a motive behind the attack, according to sources.
Rice had been waiting for a train to finish crossing when she was shot and injured to her arm and chest.
Baton Rouge authorities discovered several shell casings near her vehicle, as well as fast food on her lap, but nothing was taken from her car.
Paul added: ‘This is being taken very seriously, but despite this, there is no indication at this point that there is any indication.
“They really don’t have an explanation at this point… right now they don’t have the security they need in that particular part of town.”
“As a parent, I should never have to arrange a funeral for my child. My mother shouldn’t be involved in her grandchild’s funeral,’ he said. “This is just heartbreaking.”
Rice’s aunt Susie Rice Granier described the young woman as a “free spirit” and said she loved to sing and dance
The student had been out with friends prior to the shooting and became trapped behind a train just a few miles from campus when she was murdered
Baton Rouge Police are investigating the shooting, with Commissioner Murphy Paul saying after the incident, “I just disappeared from the scene before I came here.
“Our detectives are investigating the area. Much of the research effort that goes on behind the scenes. Very sad. Very sad.’
Her family begs the police for answers and begs anyone with information to come forward.
Sergeant L’Jean McKneely of the Baton Rouge Police Department added: “Chief Paul has worked hard to set up the CCTV systems, we have that center, we tried to push it through and make it happen to the big corridors for Baton Rouge . Florida Street, Government Street.”
Rice worked as a bartender at The Shed BBQ in Baton Rouge, where she worked with her two brothers (pictured together)
Her parents are asking anyone with information to come forward to help the police with their investigation
East Baton Rouge Mayor Sharon Weston Broome added, “My heart goes out to the family, loved ones and classmates of Allison Rice, a young LSU student who had her whole life ahead of her.
“This senseless violence is completely unacceptable and Baton Rouge officers are conducting a thorough investigation to bring the perpetrator to justice.
“Our university community is an essential part of the fabric of Baton Rouge. As we welcome students from across our state and across the country, it is paramount that we create a safe environment.”
Rice’s death is the 74th this year in East Baton Rouge Parish, and comes after a string of crimes committed against LSU students.
On August 19, another student was shot during an attempted robbery, and just days later, two separate kidnapping cases took place on campus.
According to the FBI, Baton Rouge has one of the highest murder rates in Louisiana.
Anyone with information about this shooting is urged to contact the Violent Crimes Unit at (225) 389-4869 or Crime Stoppers at (225) 344-7867.