In the heart of Shreveport, Louisiana, a vibrant community was shaken by a senseless act of violence on the night of August 18, 2025. Under the cover of darkness, just before 10:30 p.m., the 1600 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive became the scene of a devastating drive-by shooting that claimed the life of 28-year-old Labriesha Patterson, a beloved mother of two. The Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office confirmed her identity, casting a somber shadow over a city already grappling with rising violence.
Labriesha, described by her mother, Yolanda Patterson, as “small but mighty” with a smile that could light up any room, was driving northbound on MLK Drive when tragedy struck. A vehicle pulled alongside hers, and its occupants unleashed a barrage of gunfire. Bullets tore through the night, striking Labriesha multiple times. Despite the rapid response of emergency services, she was rushed to Ochsner LSU Health Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries at 11:07 p.m. Her death marked Shreveport’s 24th homicide of 2025 and the 29th in Caddo Parish, a grim milestone in a year already scarred by loss.
The Shreveport Police Department, led by investigators determined to bring justice, revealed chilling details about the attack. According to Cpl. Chris Bordelon, the shooters were targeting someone else entirely, driving a vehicle similar to Labriesha’s. In a heartbreaking twist of fate, she was an innocent bystander, caught in the crosshairs of a vendetta that had nothing to do with her. “This woman had absolutely nothing to do with this,” Bordelon said, his words underscoring the cruelty of the moment. The shooting took place near the intersection of MLK Drive and Willie Mays Street, where neighbors reported hearing the gunfire echo through the night, a sound that now haunts the community.
Labriesha’s loss is deeply personal for her family. Her mother, Yolanda, shared a heartfelt tribute on social media, painting a picture of a woman who radiated love and warmth. “Everyone loved her, and she loved everyone,” Yolanda wrote, her words a testament to Labriesha’s infectious spirit. Tragically, the day of her death coincided with her son’s birthday, compounding the family’s grief. A relative revealed that Labriesha was the third family member to fall victim to gun violence in Shreveport, a stark reminder of the city’s ongoing struggle with such tragedies. Just weeks earlier, in late July, another woman was killed in a north Shreveport vape shop by stray bullets from a gunfight, marking the second time in two months an innocent woman lost her life to misdirected gunfire.
The Shreveport Police Department has one suspect in custody and is actively pursuing leads to determine their involvement. “We are following up on suspect information right now,” Bordelon stated, emphasizing the department’s commitment to uncovering the truth. An autopsy has been ordered to provide further clarity, and investigators are combing the area for evidence, from surveillance footage to witness accounts. The community is urged to come forward with any information, no matter how small, to help piece together the events of that fateful night. Tips can be shared directly with the Shreveport Police Department or anonymously through Caddo-Shreveport Crime Stoppers at (318) 673-7373 or via the P3 Tips app, with a reward of up to $2,000 offered for information leading to an arrest.
As the investigation unfolds, the loss of Labriesha Patterson resonates far beyond the statistics. She was a daughter, a mother, a light in the lives of those who knew her. Her death, the 24th homicide in Shreveport this year, serves as a stark call to action for a community yearning for peace. The streets of MLK Drive, once filled with the sounds of everyday life, now carry the weight of grief and the hope that justice will prevail for a woman whose life was cut short far too soon.
