Game atmosphere disturbed with violence, arrests

While the Southern University Jaguars faced off against Mississippi Valley State for the first home game of the season, a man was shot off campus on Harding Boulevard at 7:41 p.m., according to Baton Rouge police.
The victim, identified by police as 59-year-old Freddie Jackson of Port Allen, was rushed to Earl K. Long hospital following the incident, where the family told police he died shortly after during surgery.
“We have dealt with shooting situations like this before, matter of fact it was last year, practically in the same area,” said Charlene Anderson, captain of the Southern University Police Department.
According to Cpl. L. Jean McKneely of the Baton Rouge City Police, Jackson’s family said he was arguing with a security guard over a parking space on a privately -owned lot across from the tennis courts on the campus.
The argument escalated to a violent end when the security guard, identified by police as 41-year-old Curtis Lily, withdrew a gun and fired a shot at Jackson, police said.
“The guard told the policemen that he felt he was in danger for his life,” said McKneely. “That’s when he pulled out the gun and shot the victim in his stomach.”
Police said Lily has been charged with second-degree murder and illegal use of a weapon.
Shortly there after, a gang fight ensued near the Southern University Laboratory School at 8:03 p.m.
SUPD said gang members used two opposing vehicles to threaten one another by allegedly wanting to hit or knock each other down.
Both SUPD and Baton Rouge law enforcement were needed to put an end to the altercation, which lead to several arrests, police officials said.
Following the gang altercation, police caught a 13-year-old male breaking the window to a parked RV to steal unidentified items from the mobile home.
At 8:43 p.m., the juvenile was apprehended on the east side of A.W. Mumford Stadium and transported to police headquarters shortly afterwards, BR police said.
McKeenly said tailgaters and attendees of university football games will need to take precautionary measures to better protect them from becoming victims of crime on game day.
“(Even) those who have been fans for years (need to) make a strong attempt to try and park on campus, and be (more) aware of (your) surroundings,” McKeenly said.
Anderson said the recent crimes during the university’s game days have prompted SU police and administration to implement new security procedures which will take effect during the next home game.