Batiste guilty of murder, attempted murder

A man who killed one person and fired at another outside a downtown Shreveport nightclub in 2023 was found guilty as-charged of second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder and illegal possession of a firearm Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Caddo District Court.

It took less than two hours for five male and seven female jurors in District Judge Chris Victory's court to pass judgement on Brandon Lawyne Batiste, 32, who on July 15, 2023, shot and killed John Ruffin Jr., 41, near the Phoenix Nightclub in the 100 block of Travis Street. His intended victim that evening was Bryson Turner. Batiste had a 2014 conviction for aggravated assault with a firearm and thus was prohibited from possessing a handgun at the time of Phoenix shootings.

In nightclub video shown at trial, Batiste could be seen aggressively approaching a group of people and instigating a fight. He pulled out a weapon and fired it 17 times. Two other people produced weapons and returned fire. Video evidence showed clearly that Batiste was responsible for firing the fatal shot that killed Mr. Ruffin.  Jurors also heard evidence from Shreveport Police officers and detectives and heard from eyewitnesses as well as several experts in scientific fields.  

When Batiste returns to Judge Victory's court May 27, 2026, he faces a mandatory life sentence at hard labor without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence. For the attempted second-degree murder, he faces at least 10 and up to 50 years at hard labor and for the firearm possession charge he faces a prison term of at least five and up to 20 years, both also without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence.

Batiste was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys William J. Edwards and Courtney N. Ray. He was defended by Michael Enright and Carter Lawrence.

The case was docket No. 396444.