BATON ROUGE — Heartbreak and grief have struck the Dorsey family once again. Erik Dorsey, a 22-year-old father of five, is the latest victim of an interstate shooting in Baton Rouge on September 29th, just five days shy of his 23rd birthday. His parents, who live in Texas, say this is a nightmare they never imagined enduring twice.
“We’ve lost another son to senseless violence,” said the father, Eric Dorsey, his voice strained with grief. It was nearly impossible for the grieving father to find the words to even talk about his son as a victim of an interstate shooting, as this tragedy marks the second time the family has had to bury a child due to gun violence in the capital city.
Their oldest son, Lorenzo, was also killed in Baton Rouge in 2018, only days before his 21st birthday. To this day, they have not received closure in that case.
The night of the shooting
The Dorseys, parents of six children, moved to Texas for the health of their youngest son, now 14. On the night of the shooting, they received a devastating call. At first, they were told Erik, affectionately known as Jay, had been involved in a car accident. It wasn’t until later they learned the horrifying truth: their son had been shot while driving on Interstate 10 westbound, near the 10/12 split, in Baton Rouge.
“We didn’t find out until I made several phone calls to the coroner’s office and the detective and sent photos to identify him. That’s when he called us back and let us know that he actually passed,” Tessie Dorsey, Erik’s stepmother, recounted.
According to Baton Rouge Police, the shooting happened around 2:50 a.m. Gunfire from a fleeing vehicle hit Erik’s SUV, causing him to crash into a truck, heading in the same direction. Both vehicles slammed into the retaining wall. Erik died at the scene, his body riddled with gunshot wounds. Despite several passengers being injured, he was the only one struck by bullets.
Authorities say they have no suspects, no clear motive, and are unsure if the shooting was random or targeted.
“We don’t know anything. We have no information at all,” Dorsey, Sr. said.
MORE FROM UWK: Baton Rouge: Interstate 10 shooting leaves 22-year-old dead
A plea for answers
The Dorsey family, shattered by grief, is left with more questions than answers. Erik’s father expressed his frustration with the lack of communication from law enforcement.
“I live in Texas. I don’t ever hear from the detective. I don’t hear from anybody,” Mr. Dorsey said. “All I want are answers about what happened to my son.”
Tessie Dorsey described her stepson as a devoted father and a bright spirit who loved life.
“He was outgoing. He was a great dad,” Tessie said. “He left behind five kids, from age six down to a newborn. He adored his children and they loved him.”
The pain of losing two sons is a burden no parent should have to bear. Tessie says she has had to put her own grief aside to support her husband and hold the family together.
“It’s heartbreaking because, as a stepmom, I have to look at my husband and the pain he’s going through,” she said. “We’ve lost two sons now, and I have to try to be strong and try to be the glue for this family. Watching him grieve is the hardest part.”
Living in fear of an unsolved case
The trauma of losing Lorenzo in 2018 still haunts the Dorseys.
“We were told the case was closed, but we never got any resolution,” Tessie said. “We’re terrified it’s going to be the same story with Erik. We deserve to know what happened to our sons.”
Tessie issued a heartfelt plea to anyone who might have information about Erik’s murder. “Just tell the truth,” she urged. “At the end of the day, a young man was killed. We have no answers, and it’s a heavy burden on this entire family. If you know something, say something. We just want to know what happened.”
The couple is also calling for a stronger community response to end the cycle of violence.
“As a community, we need to come together. It feels like no one wants to step up anymore,” Tessie said. “No one wants another parent to tell their kids right from wrong. We need to come together and try and direct our kids on the right path, get them off the path that they’re on. It’s just too much.”
Latest victim of an interstate shooting: A troubling pattern
The latest victim of an interstate shooting in Baton Rouge marks yet another tragic incident in a rising trend. Over the past year, the city has seen a disturbing uptick in gun violence on its highways, leaving residents fearful and demanding action. This latest shooting has only intensified the calls for justice and safety.
The investigation remains open, with authorities seeking any leads that might shed light on the circumstances surrounding Erik’s death. As of now, Baton Rouge Police have no suspects and are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 344-STOP.
The Dorsey family is left in a painful limbo, clinging to memories of their lost sons while grappling with the void left behind. They hope their story will be a wake-up call, a plea for change, and a demand for justice — not just for Erik and Lorenzo, but for every family touched by the horror of gun violence.
“Two sons, both taken from us far too soon,” Mr. Dorsey said, his voice breaking. “We just want answers. We just want justice.”
MORE FROM UWK ON INTERSTATE SHOOTINGS
- Interstate 110 shooting leaves woman dead
- Double shooting on interstate leaves one dead
- One arrested after man shot on I-12
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