Governor Jeff Landry calls last week’s fatal mass shooting at the Mall of Louisiana unacceptable and is pointing the finger at parents and the judicial system for the violence that continues to take place involving young people. Landry says the failure of this situation starts at home.
“When we find ourselves arresting juveniles for violent crime, somewhere along the way, those parents’ responsibilities have failed. The rest of that young man is their parent’s failure first,” Landry said.
Baton Rouge Police have arrested 17-year-old Markell Lee and charged him with first degree murder and five counts of attempted first-degree murder. Authorities are searching for a second suspected gunman.
Landry is calling on state lawmakers to look at increasing the penalties to make sure violent young criminals are locked up.
“It’s not the government’s job to raise these people. It’s common sense not to go into a public space with a gun and start shooting around blindly. We’ve got 18,000 acres at Angola. If it’s up to me, I’d send them all there for the rest of their lives,” Landry said.
Baton Rouge Police Chief TJ Morse says Lee has an extensive history in the state’s juvenile court system. Landry continues to make claims that judges in the juvenile court system are not upholding their obligation to ensure justice.
“I watch nothing but hug-a-thug policies in this state. A watering-down of our criminal justice system, not quite holding those accountable, accountable; Forgetting the victims and focusing on the criminal, like the criminal was innocent,” Landry said.
Landry is urging lawmakers to pass legislation that would hold judges accountable if they fail to impose the appropriate punishment on a convicted felon.
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