Shane McKinney
A Baton Rouge pediatrician faces a simple battery charge after he allegedly hit and verbally assaulted a Southern University student while she was walking near the LSU Lakes. Baton Rouge police spokesman Sergeant L’Jean Mckneely says 54-year old Shane McKinney was questioned yesterday after he was identified as a suspect.
“Him and his attorney came into police headquarters for a conversation, and upon that conversation, we felt that we had enough information to make a simple batter arrest,” said Mckneely.
McKinney issued a statement from his attorney claiming he’s innocent and allegations that he threw a punch and made racially offensive comments are not true.
Mckneely says so far, they have not determined a motive that led to the incident.
“Two different stories to a degree, but what we do know is that the individual was struck somewhere in the upper chest area,” said Mckneely.
McKinney’s statement says the physician’s elbow contacted the accuser as she jogged by on a narrow sidewalk and that simple battery requires intentional use of force or violence. As for if the incident involved racial language Mckneely says they don’t have enough evidence.
“By not being enough evidence to prove that it involved some verbiage, that was reportedly stated. We didn’t have enough to effectively arrest Mr. McKinney for that charge,” said Mckneely.
The investigation is ongoing and McKinney’s attorneys are requesting anyone to come forward with video footage of the incident.
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