link Francis shot and killed in Baton Rouge Associated Press LOS ANGELES -- Southern California freshman point guard Ryan Francis was shot and killed early Saturday while riding in a car in Louisiana, where he was visiting his mother. The 19-year-old Francis was killed about 3:30 a.m. in Baton Rouge, said Tim Tessalone, USC's director of sports information. "We understand he was in a car and somebody shot into the car," Tessalone said. No other details were immediately available. Francis was USC's starting point guard and averaged more than seven points a game. He scored 22 points a game at Glen Oaks High School in Baton Rouge, leading his team to a 36-0 record and the state's 4-A championship in 2004-05. Francis was named the 2005 Louisiana Class 4-A Player of the Year. "We're all devastated," said USC coach Tim Floyd. "We've lost a special young man who in his short time at USC made an impression that will last forever." That's sad. RIP
This sucks, especially for his family. If things like this aren't a message for gun controls, I don't know what is... DD
i doubt it was random...what's he doing out at 3:30 in the morning when he's there "visiting his mom."??? as others have said...got in trouble with the wrong people... ...sad
Being out cruising there at 3:30 in the morning in Baton Rouge is not a very smart thing to do. I wonder if they were looking to score some drugs.
Are you being sarcastic about Baton Rouge? Is it really dangerous??...Seems like a little Lousiana town... As for cruising at 3:30am, I'm sure they're used to it since USC happens to be in South Central...
Messing with the wrong people can sometimes just be looking at somebody the wrong way or insulting them, so I don't know why people are quick to say he went looking for trouble. We'll just have to wait for the facts.
I've never really liked that way of thinking. If you live like there is no tomorrow, aren't you conceding death? My thinking is to live life to the best, and when you die, you die, you have no control over that.
Very sad. I don't want to make this into a D & D, but I wonder if the shooter was in legal possession of the firearm.
Otto, I understand you as a card carrier of the NRA are probably not happy about my resentment at the gun culture, but you have to admit gun violence could happen just anywhere without a car involved.
Well, then we'd just replace it with knife violence, or crossbow violence, or trebuchet violence. Have you ever been hit by a trebuchet? Ouch.
The likelihood of human casualty is much higher if a gun is used. On top of that, the propensity of resorting to gun, rather than the more primitive means, to provoke a fight or to "resolve a dispute" isn't in favor of your argument.
