Louisiana college student, 21, fatally shot in car as she waited for train at road crossing

A Louisiana city is mourning the death of a 21-year-old marketing student found shot dead in her car, where authorities believe she was waiting for a train to pass.

Louisiana State University LSU campus welcome banner Baton Rouge, LA, USA

A memorial of flowers and stuffed animals has taken shape near the train tracks where Allison Rice was discovered around 2 a.m. Friday on the edge of Baton Rouge, La., said local TV station WAFB/Channel 9.

Police have announced neither motive nor suspects in the killing. Multiple shots were fired into the vehicle, according to local outlets. Witnesses told New Orleans TV station WWL that Rice tried to execute a U-turn before gunshots were heard.

Baton Rouge mayor Sharon Weston Broom denounced the “senseless violence” that led to Rice’s death in a statement calling for help from law enforcement, school officials and students in bringing the killer or killers to justice.

Rice, of Geismar, La., was a senior at Louisiana State University, a spokesman for the Baton Rouge-based university said.

Allison Rice was found around 2 a.m. Friday on the edge of town. Police have announced neither motive nor suspects in the killing.

The Dutchtown High School graduate was on her high school homecoming court, WAFB reported. Those who knew the victim described her as well-liked and outgoing.

Rice reportedly worked at an off-campus barbecue eatery called The Shed, which is owned in-part by her family. One co-owner there called Rice’s death “just devastating” and said the staff was in tears over the tragic shooting.

WWL-TV was told Rice was preparing to graduate and begin an internship.

Baton Rouge is the Bayou State’s capital. It’s home to roughly 230,000 people.

BRProud.com reported at the start of 2022 that the city had seen a spike in violent crime over the past couple of years. LSU sociology professor Ed Shihadeh reportedly blamed “floaters” who he said have no “institutional attachments, no connections to any institutions in our society,” for the city’s crime problems.