Shooting victim identified
Police have no suspect, motive
A 36-year-old father of three was shot and killed early Tuesday while standing in a vacant lot at Convention and North 12th streets, Baton Rouge police and family members of the victim said.
The city’s latest homicide was recorded just after 1:30 a.m., when police found Otis Deon Kinchen lying in the lot suffering from gunshot wounds, police spokesman Cpl. L’Jean McKneely said.
Kinchen, 635 N. 11th St., died at the scene.
The Baton Rouge native’s death marks the 57th homicide this year in the city and the 72nd killing in 2012 in East Baton Rouge Parish, according to statistics compiled by The Advocate.
Kinchen’s sister, Beverly Miles, said her brother’s death was unnecessary.
Miles said Kinchen, known by family and friends as Deon, had recently left prison and was “turning his life around.” Kinchen was working for a flooring company, engaged to be married and had a baby on the way, she said.
“He was a loving, caring person,” said Miles, who reared Kinchen after their mother died 15 years ago. “He smiled a lot and put smiles on a lot of people’s faces.”
Miles’ fiancé e, Lashonda Morgan, teared up as she sat with friends and family under a carport Tuesday afternoon on North 22nd Street.
“He will be missed,” Morgan said. “He was loved by all.”
As of late Tuesday, police had not arrested anyone or named any suspects in Kinchen’s killing. They also had not determined a motive.
Anyone with information about the slaying is asked to call police at (225) 389-4869 or Crime Stoppers at (225) 344-7867.