2006 Baton Rouge church shooting

Mass shooting in Louisiana, U.S. December 2025 December 2025 Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States May 21, 2006 CDT; UTC−05:00 Mass shooting mass murder 5 1 Anthony Bell RevolverMay 22, 2006 Anthony Bell Trial day 9, Prosecutor runs out of witnesses https://www.wafb.com/story/8148438/anthony-bell-trial-day-9-prosecutors-run-out-of-witnesses https://archive.today/20250513201444/https://www.wafb.com/story/8148438/anthony-bell-trial-day-9-prosecutors-run-out-of-witnesses/ May 13, 2025 wafb Guilty on all counts First-degree murder (x5)Attempted first-degree murder yes Death On May 21, 2006, at the Ministry of Jesus Christ Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a gunman opened fire at a church, killing four people (who were the relatives of the gunman's wife) and wounding a pastor. The 25-year-old gunman, Anthony Bell (born October 13, 1980), subsequently killed his estranged wife after kidnapping her from the church and then shot her inside an apartment complex. Bell was arrested on the same day of the shootings and was charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. Bell was found guilty of all charges and sentenced to death on September 12, 2008. Shooting During a morning service at the Ministry of Jesus Christ Church, where six adults and five children were present for the event, a 25-year-old man named Anthony Bell entered the church and asked his estranged wife for reconciliation, which she refused.STATE OF LOUISIANA v. ANTHONY BELL https://law.justia.com/cases/louisiana/supreme-court/2010/09ka0199-opn-1.html 2025-05-13 Justia Law en Bell returned with a handgun and opened fire inside the church with six bullets, fatally shooting four individuals and wounding another before abducting his wife Erica Bell and their three children.STATE OF LOUISIANA v. ANTHONY BELL (2010) https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/la-supreme-court/1546275.html https://archive.today/20250513201516/https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/la-supreme-court/1546275.html May 13, 2025 2025-05-13 Findlaw en-US The victims — all relatives of Erica and Bell's in-laws — were identified as Leonard and Gloria Howard, Erica's grandparents (aged 78 and 72), Dolores McGrew, her 68-year-old great-aunt, and Darlene Mills Selvage, her 47-year-old cousin. The church's pastor, Claudia Brown, also the mother of Erica, was shot in the back of the head, but she was still alive and managed to ask one of the remaining two children to call for help.State v. Bell [2010], Louisiana Supreme Court (United States).May 22, 2006 Five dead after man opens fire at church https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-oshkosh-northwestern/67940015/ https://archive.today/20250513201532/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-oshkosh-northwestern/67940015/ May 13, 2025 The Oshkosh Northwestern newspapers.comMay 22, 2006 Gunman kills 4 in church, wife; abducted kids safe https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution/67940305/ https://archive.today/20250513201542/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution/67940305/ May 13, 2025 The Atlanta Constitution newspapers.com After the shooting, Bell fled with his wife and their three children. Subsequently, Bell parked his car at the parking lot of a nearby apartment complex, where he shot and killed Erica, who was 24 years old at the time of her death. Bell, however, spared the lives of his children. He later dialed 911 and reported that his wife had killed herself. Upon the arrival of police, Bell was arrested and taken into custody for the murders of his wife and her four relatives.May 21, 2006 5 Dead In Louisiana Church Shooting https://www.cbsnews.com/news/5-dead-in-louisiana-church-shooting/ CBS News All six victims had been shot in the head.2006-06-17 Anthony Bell Pleads 'Not Guilty' to Church Shooting Spree https://www.wafb.com/story/5042876/anthony-bell-pleads-not-guilty-to-church-shooting-spree/ 2025-05-13 en Brown, the sole survivor of the shooting, was taken to a hospital for treatment and she eventually survived her wounds despite the severity of her wounds.May 21, 2006 Police: Man kills four in church, then wife https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/2006/05/22/police-man-kills-four-in-church-then-wife/31484474007/ Gainesville Sun Evidence showed that prior to the shooting, Erica had obtained a temporary restraining order against her husband in 2005, as a result of Bell's alleged abuse of his wife and infidelity, making it likely that the shooting was connected to domestic violence.May 22, 2006 Victim in La. slayings filed for restraining order https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna12915813 NBC News May 23, 2006 History of violence preceded deadly shooting https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times/52295867/ The Times newspapers.com Charges and pre-trial process After his arrest, Anthony Bell was charged with multiple counts of murder, attempted murder and kidnapping.May 23, 2006 Domestic violence preceded church shooting https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-world/67476813/ Daily World newspapers.com May 22, 2006 Gunman Accused of Church Shooting Makes Court "Appearance" https://www.wafb.com/story/4931012/gunman-accused-of-church-shooting-makes-court-appearance/ WAFB On June 15, 2006, a grand jury formally indicted Bell for five counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder. Baton Rouge prosecutor Mark Dumaine confirmed that he would seek the death penalty for Bell, calling the shooting the "most heinous" he ever handled as a prosecutor.June 17, 2006 Death penalty sought in church killing spree https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-town-talk/67477080/ The Town Talk newspapers.com June 16, 2006 Man indicted on church killing spree https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna13360923 NBC News By April 2007, Bell had undergone at least three psychiatric assessments to determine his mental competency to claim trial for the church shootings.April 19, 2007 Third mental exam ordered for BR man accused of killing five https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-mary-and-franklin-banner-tribune/67477327/ St. Mary and Franklin Banner-Tribune newspapers.com April 20, 2007 3rd mental exam for man accused of killing 5 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-town-talk/67537417/ The Town Talk newspapers.com In July 2007, a psychologist for the defence testified in a pre-trial hearing that Bell possessed the mental ability of a young child and was therefore mentally incompetent to stand trial for the murders of his wife and four in-laws.July 1, 2007 Psychologist: Church killer not fit for trial https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-world/67479080/ Daily World newspapers.com July 2, 2007 Murder suspect unfit https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-review/67479334/ The Daily Review newspapers.com On September 1, 2007, District Judge Todd Hernandez ruled that Bell was mentally competent to stand trial for the murders, accepting the evidence from two other psychiatric experts that Bell was fit to plead and claim trial for the shooting.September 1, 2007 Suspect in church killings competent to stand trial https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-star/67478250/ The News-Star newspapers.com August 31, 2007 Judge Rules Man Competent To Stand Trial For Five Murders https://www.ktbs.com/news/judge-rules-man-competent-to-stand-trial-for-five-murders/article_a8e39a55-cab3-5159-a258-ad011da58832.html KTBS A month later, Bell requested to represent himself and fire his lawyers as they were allegedly not protecting his rights or compliant with his instructions, but the request was denied.September 7, 2007 Judge: Accused in church shootings can't fire lawyers https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-star/67479818/ The News-Star newspapers.com Bell eventually relented and dropped his request to represent himself at trial in November 2007.November 7, 2007 Bell drops bid to represent himself in murder case https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-star/67479443/ The News-Star newspapers.com November 6, 2007 Slaying Suspect Bell Drops Bid To Be Lawyer https://www.ktbs.com/news/slaying-suspect-bell-drops-bid-to-be-lawyer/article_cbd9eb80-402b-5d15-835d-bdc73c0c7478.html KTBS On December 14, 2007, Bell's lawyers argued that the possibility of Bell receiving the death penalty should be quashed on the grounds that Bell had an Intelligence quotient in the low 50's, but the judge kept the death penalty as a possibility.2007-12-15 Judge Keeps Death Penalty on the Table as Possible Sentence for Anthony Bell https://www.wafb.com/story/7498388/judge-keeps-death-penalty-on-the-table-as-possible-sentence-for-anthony-bell https://web.archive.org/web/20260308022804/https://www.wafb.com/story/7498388/judge-keeps-death-penalty-on-the-table-as-possible-sentence-for-anthony-bell/ 8 March 2026 2026-03-08 WAFB en On February 28, 2008, Bell's second request to represent himself in his trial was accepted by District Judge Todd Hernandez.March 1, 2008 Judge: B.R. man can represent self in church shooting trial https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-town-talk/67537277/ The Town Talk newspapers.com Trial of Anthony Bell The trial of Anthony Bell was scheduled on March 31, 2008.March 31, 2008 Trial set in '06 B.R. killings; defendant representing self https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-review/67478814/ The Daily Review newspapers.com Although Bell requested to delay the trial to allow him more time to prepare, the judge did not grant a delay;March 16, 2008 Judge turns down accused killer's request for delay https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-town-talk/67537185/ The Town Talk newspapers.com Bell also filed a second request to have his wife's body exhumed to allow his own forensic experts to examine it.April 8, 2008 Defendant in 2006 murders wants wife's body exhumed https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times/67539678/ The Times newspapers.com Additionally, out of concerns for her safety due to potential attempts on her life, Claudia Brown, the sole survivor of the shooting, was in protective custody outside of Louisiana leading up to the trial, and her testimony would be taped should the situation render her unable to come to court as a witness.January 16, 2008 Protected witness testimony on BR shootings to be taped https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-mary-and-franklin-banner-tribune/67479690/ St. Mary and Franklin Banner-Tribune newspapers.com Bell's ex-girlfriend was also allowed to come to court to testify on the domestic violence she experienced from her past relationship from Bell in spite of the defendant's objection.March 9, 2008 Ex-girlfriend may describe alleged abuse in church killings trial https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-town-talk/67478504/ The Town Talk newspapers.com During the trial itself, Bell claimed that he never killed his in-laws or his wife. Instead, he stated that it was Erica who killed his in-laws in the church before she turned the gun on herself and committed suicide, but the evidence showed that the murder weapon, which was found on the hand of Erica, contained a greater percentage of Bell's DNA than his wife's, and it was likely to be placed in her hand, and Brown also testified that she heard her mother Gloria Howard (one of the four fatally shot by Bell) shouting "Don't shoot me Anthony" before she was gunned down. On April 11, 2008, after two hours of deliberation, an East Baton Rouge Parish jury found Bell guilty of all five counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder.April 13, 2008 Bell convicted in killing of wife, four in-laws at church https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-town-talk/67478370/ The Town Talk newspapers.com April 14, 2008 Bell convicted in killing of wife plus four in- laws at church https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-mary-and-franklin-banner-tribune/67478669/ St. Mary and Franklin Banner-Tribune newspapers.com April 12, 2008 Anthony Bell Found GUILTY https://www.wafb.com/story/8153779/anthony-bell-found-guilty/ WAFB Through his conviction for the most serious charge of first-degree murder, Bell faced a potential sentence of life in prison without parole or the death penalty. The sentencing of Bell was delayed to April 14, 2008.April 15, 2008 Sentencing delayed in trial of multiple Baton Rouge killings https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-star/67539525/ The News-Star newspapers.com On April 17, 2008, the jury returned with their verdict on sentence, unanimously recommending Bell to receive the death penalty for each count of first-degree murder.April 17, 2008 Jury Recommends Death Sentence for Anthony Bell https://www.wafb.com/story/8184770/jury-recommends-death-sentence-for-anthony-bell/ WAFB April 18, 2008 Jury's verdict: Death The Advocate Formal sentencing was scheduled on September 4, 2008.June 29, 2008 Sentencing set in BR church killings https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-star/67539399/ The News-Star newspapers.com On September 11, 2008, 27-year-old Anthony Bell was formally sentenced to death by District Judge Todd Hernandez. Bell was handed a total of five consecutive death sentences for all the murder charges preferred against him, in addition to 50 years in prison for the attempted murder charge.September 12, 2008 Bell sentenced to die for 5 slayings The Advocate April 11, 2008 Anthony Bell Found GUILTY https://www.wafb.com/story/8153779/anthony-bell-found-guilty/ WAFB2008-09-11 Anthony Bell formally sentenced for deadly church shooting https://www.wafb.com/story/8992508/anthony-bell-formally-sentenced-for-deadly-church-shooting/ 2025-05-13 en Current status of Bell After he was sentenced to death, Anthony Bell was transferred to the Louisiana State Penitentiary, where he was incarcerated on death row since his sentencing in 2008. In 2023, it was revealed that Bell was one of 57 inmates to remain on Louisiana's death row that year.June 13, 2023 Who is on death row in Louisiana? Here are the 57 names and their history. https://www.nola.com/news/politics/these-are-the-57-people-on-death-row-in-louisiana/article_3d60e05e-f4df-11ed-b24e-1fff4a677337.html The New Orleans Advocate in February 2025, Louisiana announced plans to resume executions, ending a 15-year moratorium that had been in place since 2010. On March 18, 2025, the state carried out its first execution in over a decade, putting convicted rapist and murderer Jessie Hoffman Jr. to death using nitrogen hypoxia.The New York Times March 18, 2025 Louisiana Resumes Capital Punishment With First Nitrogen Execution https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/18/us/louisiana-nitrogen-execution-jessie-hoffman-capital-punishment-landry.html As of the day before the execution, March 17, 2025, 56 inmates, including Bell, remained on death row. Following Hoffman's execution, the number dropped to 55.Louisiana Illuminator March 17, 2025 As Louisiana is set to resume executions, these 56 people are on death row https://lailluminator.com/2025/03/17/louisiana-death-row/ Court appeals After he was sentenced to death, Anthony Bell filed an appeal to the Louisiana Supreme Court against his death sentence.September 11, 2010 State Supreme Court hears Anthony Bell case https://www.wafb.com/story/13135291/state-supreme-court-hears-anthony-bell-case/ WAFB On November 30, 2010, the Louisiana Supreme Court dismissed Bell's appeal, rejecting the defence's arguments that Bell was intellectually disabled and thus should not be executed.December 1, 2010 Death sentence upheld in high court https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times/67479585/ The Times newspapers.com December 1, 2010 High court upholds death penalty in BR church deaths https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-review/67479219/ The Daily Review newspapers.com December 1, 2010 Death penalty upheld https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-advertiser/67478931/ The Daily Advertiser newspapers.com In 2014, Bell's lawyers filed an appeal for a new trial, seeking to overturn the murder convictions and death sentences of Bell, and they argued that he was not supposed to be convicted given that he was mentally incompetent to plead or claim trial or even represent himself as his own lawyer, and they called it a "travesty of justice" for the judicial system to condemn Bell to death row in spite of these concerns.January 16, 2014 Killer of 5, sentenced to death, seeks new trial https://www.ktbs.com/news/killer-of-5-sentenced-to-death-seeks-new-trial/article_968a4ec6-99be-5505-9571-ba541d73bcd4.html KTBS August 10, 2014 Inside Report: Client who fired counsel seeks new trial https://www.nola.com/inside-report-client-who-fired-counsel-seeks-new-trial/article_aba0869a-f77c-55fa-a19b-2cb901552b93.html The New Orleans Advocate These claims were all rejected by District Judge Todd Hernandez, and subsequently, in April 2017, the Louisiana Supreme Court rejected the follow-up appeal on these claims, including new evidence of alleged brain damage and bipolar disorder which his lawyers claimed were previously undiscovered.April 26, 2017 No new trial for condemned killer Anthony Bell in 2006 BR killings, state high court says https://www.nola.com/no-new-trial-for-condemned-killer-anthony-bell-in-2006-br-killings-state-high-court/article_6abba5a9-a730-5644-85b9-e8703f708024.html The New Orleans Advocate April 26, 2017 No new trial for condemned killer Anthony Bell in 2006 BR killings, state high court says https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/courts/no-new-trial-for-condemned-killer-anthony-bell-in-2006-br-killings-state-high-court/article_d3aff50e-2a97-11e7-8eef-432babe88350.html The Advocate 2023 clemency bid In 2023, as Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards approached the end of his term, he publicly voiced his opposition to the death penalty and advocated for its abolition in the state. Despite his stance, the Louisiana legislature voted on May 24, 2023, to reject a bill that would have ended capital punishment.https://apnews.com/article/louisiana-edwards-legislature-abortion-death-penalty-a89154992949d92a620254f5f94d544f Abortion, raises and death penalty top of Edwards' agenda Associated Press April 10, 2023 February 16, 2025 February 16, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250216145345/https://apnews.com/article/louisiana-edwards-legislature-abortion-death-penalty-a89154992949d92a620254f5f94d544f livehttps://apnews.com/article/louisiana-death-penalty-48c7487ae6036b30544f9d90e0ff350b Louisiana lawmakers reject bill to abolish death penalty Associated Press May 24, 2023 February 16, 2025 February 16, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250216145345/https://apnews.com/article/louisiana-death-penalty-48c7487ae6036b30544f9d90e0ff350b live A month later, in June 2023, 55 of the 56 inmates on Louisiana's death row — including Anthony Bell — submitted clemency petitions, seeking to have their death sentences commuted to life imprisonment before Edwards left office. These petitions were reviewed by the Louisiana Board of Pardons and Committee on Parole.https://apnews.com/article/louisiana-death-penalty-clemency-inmate-247b69f5f57946022b14332c34216be8 Nearly all of Louisiana's death row inmates ask governor for clemency on the same day Associated Press June 13, 2023 February 16, 2025 February 16, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250216145345/https://apnews.com/article/louisiana-death-penalty-clemency-inmate-247b69f5f57946022b14332c34216be8 livehttps://www.kplctv.com/2023/08/11/who-are-56-inmates-louisianas-death-row-requesting-clemency/ Who are the 56 inmates on Louisiana's death row requesting clemency? KPLC TV August 11, 2023 February 16, 2025 February 16, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250216145345/https://www.kplctv.com/2023/08/11/who-are-56-inmates-louisianas-death-row-requesting-clemency/ livehttps://www.kalb.com/2023/06/15/3-cenla-death-row-inmates-request-clemency/ 3 Cenla death row inmates request clemency KALB June 15, 2023 However, in July 2023, the Board denied all 56 petitions, ruling that the inmates were ineligible because they had filed too soon after the conclusion of their legal appeals; state law required a one-year waiting period after the final appeal decision before a clemency request could be submitted.https://apnews.com/article/death-row-clemency-louisiana-f4ce63ebdc199487e943675ef3fbf57f All 56 Louisiana death row clemency petitions turned away for being ineligible Associated Press July 28, 2023 February 16, 2025 February 16, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250216145345/https://apnews.com/article/death-row-clemency-louisiana-f4ce63ebdc199487e943675ef3fbf57f live In October 2023, the Board also rejected additional clemency requests from five other death row inmates, including Antoinette Frank.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/14/louisiana-denies-clemency-hearings-to-five-death-row-prisoners Louisiana denies clemency hearings to five death row prisoners The Guardian October 14, 2023https://lailluminator.com/2023/10/14/clemency-death-row/ Louisiana pardon board denies clemency hearings to five on death row Louisiana Illuminator October 14, 2023 February 16, 2025 February 16, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250216152247/https://lailluminator.com/2023/10/14/clemency-death-row/ live Aftermath When the shooting first occurred, Baton Rouge police chief Jeff LeDuff called it "one of the worst days" in the city and stated that it was a senseless shooting that led to a "total waste of human life".May 22, 2006 4 die in Baton Rouge church shootings https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/67942912/ The Ottawa Citizen newspapers.com The funerals of the victims were conducted a week after the shooting, and the first funeral was held for Darlene Selvage, with more than 200 people (including family, friends and even local leaders) attending the funeral to pay respects.May 30, 2006 First Funeral for Victims of Church Shooting https://www.wafb.com/story/4962452/first-funeral-for-victims-of-church-shooting/ WAFB In the aftermath of the shooting, the church, where the incident happened, was closed since the occurrence of the shooting, and it had not resumed its operations since. During the first anniversary of the shooting, the families of the five victims expressed that they were still grappling with the emotional aftermath of the incident. The daughter of one of the victims, Darlene Selvage, was placed under the care of her mother's sister and they moved out of Louisiana since the murders. James Mills, the father of Selvage, said that he could not bear to see his eldest daughter's coffin back at the funeral, only wanting to remember her by the last time he saw her alive.May 22, 2007 Baton Rouge Deadly Church Shooting Anniversary https://www.wafb.com/story/6546399/baton-rouge-deadly-church-shooting-anniversary/ WAFB In light of the 2015 Charleston church shooting, where white supremacist Dylann Roof shot and killed nine African-American churchgoers at a black church in South Carolina, the case of Anthony Bell was mentioned as one of the country's high-profile church shootings in the past decade. According to data gathered by USA Today, as of 2015, there were 217 people arrested and charged with mass killings, and 132 of these offenders were sentenced to prison and 15 were sentenced to death, including Bell himself. The rest were either awaiting trial, detained in juvenile facilities or being acquitted.June 18, 2015 What happens to mass killers: the data behind the crimes. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/06/18/mass-killer-shooting-charleston-church-conviction-death-sentence/28930425/ USA Today Roof was later found guilty of 33 federal charges of murder and hate crimes, and sentenced to death by the U.S. federal government in 2017,January 12, 2017 Dylann Roof formally sentenced to death, sits silently as he is told he will 'rot in hell'. https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/dylann-roof-formally-sentenced-to-death-sits-silently-as-he-is-told-he-will-rot The Straits Times and after losing his appeal and being excluded from then President Joe Biden's clemency pardon for federal death row inmates, Roof remains on death row as of 2025.August 26, 2021 US court upholds conviction, death sentence of church shooter Dylann Roof https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/us-court-upholds-conviction-death-sentence-of-church-shooter-dylann-roof The Straits Times December 23, 2024 Biden commutes 37 death sentences in latest use of pardon power https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/biden-commutes-37-death-sentences-in-latest-use-of-pardon-power The Straits Times In 2017, in light of the Sutherland Springs church shooting, where mass shooter Devin Patrick Kelley killed 26 people in a church in Texas before committing suicide, the residents of Baton Rouge recalled the 2006 church shooting perpetuated by Anthony Bell due to the similarities shared by both incidents. Robert Brown, the father-in-law of Bell, told a newspaper that he had since forgave his son-in-law and stated that Bell had to suffer the consequences of his actions. Robert Brown also stated that whenever such events hit the news, it often brought back the painful memories of losing his daughter. He said that his wife Claudia Brown, who was the sole survivor of the shooting, had since recovered and was still doing well.Baton Rouge man recalls deadly 2006 church shooting https://www.wbrz.com/news/baton-rouge-man-recalls-deadly-2006-church-shooting/ November 6, 2017 WBRZ Another 2017 report on the Sutherland Springs church shooting revealed that, since 1999, at least 91 people had been killed in 22 or more church-related shootings by that year, and the 2006 Baton Rouge church shooting was one of these cases included in the list.America's church shootings: At least 91 killed since 1999 https://www.al.com/living/2017/11/post_346.html November 6, 2017 Alabama Local News See also Capital punishment in Louisiana List of death row inmates in the United States Louisiana List of mass shootings in the United States References Category:2006 in Louisiana Category:2006 murders in the United States Category:Capital murder cases Category:Church shootings in the United States Category:May 2006 crimes in the United States Category:Murder in Louisiana Category:People murdered in Louisiana Category:Deaths by person in Louisiana Category:Deaths by firearm in Louisiana Category:Gun violence in the United States Category:2006 mass shootings in the United States Category:Uxoricides in the United States Category:Violence against women in Louisiana Category:Attacks on churches in the 2000s Category:Mass shootings in religious buildings and structures