Police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, arrested and charged two 19-year-old men Friday in relation to a mass shooting that injured 12 people at a nightclub in January.
Baton Rouge police arrested Nikeal Franklin and Jy’Shaun Jackson on Friday, and the two face 12 counts of attempted first-degree murder and 12 counts of principal to attempted first-degree murder respectively, according to WAFB. The charges stem from the Dior Bar & Lounge shooting that occurred in the early hours of the morning of Jan. 22. The teens’ mugshots were shared on social media.
Two 19-year-olds arrested for Louisiana mass shooting that wounded 12. pic.twitter.com/dt3Jsn2Mqp
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) February 13, 2023
Twelve people were hit by the gunfire, with most sustaining non life-threatening injuries, WAFB continued. At least three victims of the shooting were initially categorized as being in “critical condition,” but they all improved over time.
Authorities suspended the liquor license for the establishment two days after the shooting, and the club remained closed throughout the investigation, according to The Advocate. (RELATED: Parents Facing Murder Charges After Woman Found ‘Melted’ On Couch Get Released From Jail)
Police believe the attack was targeted and involved at least two other men: two shooters and two accomplices, WAFB noted. Documents related to Franklin and Jackson’s arrest stated that surveillance footage shows all four individuals entering the club. Two men then left and handed the firearms under a fenced area on the back patio of the club.
The firearms are also related to another shooting in St. James Parish, WAFB reported. The other two individuals believed to be part of the latest attack remain at large.