USC’s Ryan Francis killed in Baton Rouge
May 15, 2006

University of Southern California freshman point guard Ryan Francis was shot and killed early Saturday while in Baton Rouge, LA visiting his mom for Mother’s Day. The 19-year-old was in a vehicle with four passengers at about 3:30 a.m. when the driver of another vehicle pulled up alongside them at a stoplight, exited the car and opened fire, said Lt. Keith Bates of the Baton Rouge Police Department. Francis, who was sitting in the back seat, was shot multiple times. The shooter was identified as 19-year-old D'Anthony Norman Ford, who was arrested without incident Saturday and charged with one count of first-degree murder. Francis was the starting point guard this past season for USC (17-13) and averaged more than seven points a game. He ranked seventh in the Pac-10 in assists (111) and fifth in steals (47). "We're all devastated," said USC coach Tim Floyd. "We've lost a special young man who in his short time at USC made an impression that will last forever."

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