BATON ROUGE, La. — A Baton Rouge man was arrested in Memphis after officers there stopped his vehicle and found a woman dead from a gunshot wound in the passenger seat, authorities said.
Traffic stop leads to discovery of body
Memphis Police officers stopped a vehicle driven by Tyronne Brazille, 50, on Aug. 13 for a traffic violation, and during the stop discovered Lanessa Bradford, 50, dead in the passenger seat, according to authorities. Investigators say Bradford died of a gunshot wound.
Police in Memphis took Brazille into custody. He was being held as a fugitive and is awaiting extradition to Baton Rouge, where investigators said he will face a murder charge in connection with Bradford’s death.
Local connection: Independence Community Park
Baton Rouge investigators determined Bradford and Brazille were together earlier in the day at Independence Community Park, located at 7500 Independence Blvd. in Baton Rouge. Investigators said the shooting occurred after a verbal argument between the two and that Brazille then left the area and drove out of state.
“Detectives learned that Bradford and Brazille were together at Independence Community Park,”
Baton Rouge law enforcement and the Memphis Police Department coordinated after the body was found, according to the Baton Rouge Police Department statement released through regional media outlets.
Timeline and immediate consequences
Authorities have said Brazille drove across multiple states before being stopped in Tennessee. Beyond the arrest and the pending extradition, Baton Rouge police have charged Brazille with murder and are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding Bradford’s death.
- Aug. 13: Memphis police stop vehicle for traffic violation, discover Bradford deceased in passenger seat.
- Following the stop: Brazille arrested by Memphis officers and held as a fugitive awaiting extradition to Baton Rouge.
- Baton Rouge connection: Investigators say the pair were at Independence Community Park earlier the same day and that a verbal argument preceded the shooting.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Aug. 13 | Traffic stop in Memphis reveals a passenger dead from a gunshot wound; driver arrested |
| Following days | Driver held for extradition to Baton Rouge to face murder charge |
The Baton Rouge Police Department identified the victims and described the basic facts of the case in a statement distributed to local and regional media. The Memphis Police Department initiated the arrest after the traffic stop that uncovered the body in the vehicle.
Officials have not released additional details about the nature of the argument at Independence Community Park, any potential relationship between Bradford and Brazille beyond being together that day, or a motive. Authorities also did not release information about whether any weapon was recovered at the scene in Baton Rouge or later in Tennessee.
Brazille’s formal booking in Memphis lists him as being taken into custody as a fugitive; local authorities in Baton Rouge are expected to file a murder charge upon his return. Extradition procedures can take several days to complete as state and local authorities coordinate the transfer.
Investigators from the Baton Rouge Police Department are leading the homicide investigation in coordination with Memphis Police, and any additional charges or court filings will be handled by the East Baton Rouge Parish district attorney’s office once Brazille is returned to Louisiana custody.
WE NEWS will continue to follow this case and will report updates as Baton Rouge authorities release additional information.
