Donald Barge Jr.

An aspiring rapper is shot 9 times
Donald Isadore Barge Jr., known to his friends and fans as "Beezle," was a 20-year-old aspiring rapper from Algiers, Louisiana, with a deep passion for his music. A 2011 graduate of Edna Karr High School, Donald was remembered by his loved ones as a quiet person who kept to himself and was not involved in a violent lifestyle. He was the loving son of Donald Barge, Sr. and Catina Swayne Barge, and a brother to Dontae Barge and Tyrai L. Swayne. His family described him as someone who didn't bother anybody and had a clean record, not even a speeding ticket. He poured his energy into his art, creating numerous music videos that showcased his talent and his dream of being known for his music.

The cold, clear evening of Saturday, January 25, 2014, shattered his family's world. At around 6:00 p.m., Donald, a Black man, was leaving a home in the 1700 block of Odeon Street in his blue car when an unknown attacker opened fire. He was struck nine times in the barrage of bullets. Despite the catastrophic injuries, Donald managed to speed away from the scene, driving for several blocks in a desperate attempt to escape. His flight ended when his car crashed through a fence and came to a rest in the front yard of a house on Ptolemy Street. Emergency responders rushed him to a local hospital, but he succumbed to his wounds.

The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) launched a homicide investigation, but the case quickly grew cold. Detectives were left with few leads and no clear motive for the brutal slaying. Detective Richard Chambers of the NOPD's Cold Case Division later expressed the frustration shared by law enforcement, confirming that Donald had no significant criminal history that would point to a reason for such a violent attack. His mother, Catina Barge, believes her son was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. The lack of witnesses coming forward has been a major obstacle in the investigation, leaving a painful void for his grieving family.

In the years following the murder, Donald's family has repeatedly pleaded with the public for any information that could lead to an arrest. "Jan. 25 is the worst day of my family's life," his sister, Tyrai Swayne, said in a 2015 interview. "It was like a stab in my heart to find out that he didn't make it." The pain remains raw for his mother, who longs for closure. "I just need justice for my son," Catina Barge said. "I know it won't bring my son back or anything, but I need justice for him so I'm able to rest." Their appeals highlight the devastating ripple effect of violence, with Tyrai adding, "It's people's families you're hurting! My brother isn't hurting. He's in heaven. So it's us dealing with the hurt every day."

A funeral service for Donald was held on January 31, 2014, at the Second Baptist Church in Algiers, where family, friends, and community members gathered to mourn the young life cut short. He was laid to rest in McDonoghville Cemetery in Gretna. His obituary remembered him as a loving son, brother, and companion to Haylley West, survived by a large extended family of grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins who felt his loss profoundly.

As of May 2015, more than a year after the shooting, the investigation into Donald Barge Jr.'s murder remained open but inactive, with no suspects or motive publicly identified. The case is a painful example of the unsolved homicides that leave families searching for answers and justice. His family continues to hope that someone will break the silence and come forward with the information needed to find who was responsible for his death. Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans has featured Donald's case, offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to an arrest. The New Orleans Police Department urges anyone with knowledge of the crime to contact them.