Scotlandville Homicide Investigation: 22-Year-Old Victor LaPharaohs Fatally Shot in Broad Daylight
BATON ROUGE, LA – A homicide investigation is underway after a young man was gunned down in a quiet Scotlandville neighborhood Monday afternoon, sending shockwaves through the local community and devastating his family.
The shooting occurred around 3:15 p.m. on July 1, in the 9900 block of Avenue J near Woodpecker Street. Baton Rouge Police officers responded to reports of gunfire and arrived at the scene to find a man lying unresponsive in a parking lot within a residential housing complex. Tragically, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Family members have identified the victim as 22-year-old Victor LaPharaohs, a devoted father and hardworking Amazon employee. His sudden and violent death has left his loved ones reeling.
“They wrong for taking my baby like that. My baby was a good child. Didn’t bother nobody,” said Victoria London, Victor’s grieving mother, as she tearfully spoke with WAFB.
According to London, police informed her that three individuals had been taken into custody in connection with the investigation. In a heartbreaking revelation, she said that two of the suspects had been at her home just hours before the fatal shooting.
“They wrong,” she said with visible anguish. “For one, they came and picked my son up from the house. So, it was people he knew. They picked him up from the house to set him up.”
Detectives had a Honda Accord towed away from the scene, although police have not publicly confirmed whether the vehicle was directly linked to the shooting. Authorities say they are still in the early stages of the investigation and are pursuing all leads. WAFB has confirmed that investigators were able to retrieve some surveillance footage from the area and are working to analyze it for possible clues.
Deputy Chief William Clarida with the Baton Rouge Police Department stressed the importance of community involvement in helping solve cases like this.
“Neighborhood usually has a lot of good information, and they’re usually some of the best sources for us to help solve these types of things,” Clarida said.
Victor’s family is now left grappling with an unimaginable loss. His mother remembers him as a man full of joy, warmth, and purpose—someone who worked hard, loved deeply, and lit up every room he walked into.
“All he did was work. He worked at Amazon and lived for his baby,” London shared. “He made everybody laugh. He made everybody laugh. Everybody loved him.”
Victor LaPharaohs leaves behind a 2-year-old daughter, now forced to grow up without her father. His untimely death marks yet another life lost to senseless violence, and another child robbed of a parent.
As the investigation continues, Baton Rouge Police are urging anyone with information to come forward.
If you saw anything or have any tips that could help detectives piece together what happened, please contact Crime Stoppers at (225) 344-7867 (STOP). Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.
Victor’s family and friends are pleading for justice—and for answers.
“He didn’t deserve that,” said London. “He had so much life left. They didn’t just take my son—they took a father, a brother, a soul full of love.”
As candles are lit and loved ones gather in remembrance, the community of Scotlandville stands in mourning, and in hope—that those responsible will be held accountable and that peace will return to their streets.
