Police are continuing to investigate the alleged assault on a Southern University student-athlete near the LSU lakes on Monday.
A probable cause affidavit obtained on Thursday, November 12, provides details from the incident that saw the arrest of a local physician.
Police said Thursday that there was not enough evidence to prove that the incident was racially motivated.
54-year-old Shane McKinney, a Baton Rouge doctor, was under criminal investigation after being identified as a suspect in the attack on a Southern University student that occurred while she was walking near the LSU lakes Monday evening.
According to the affidavit, Mckinney was running down the walking path in the direction of the victim and her friend when he allegedly yelled for them to move out of the way.
The affidavit says that McKinney raised his elbow and struck the victim in the shoulder and chest area with enough force to turn the victim 180 degrees. A witness reportedly told police that as McKinney approached the two on the walking path, he turned his body "significantly more than required" when normally running.
Following the incident, the witness followed McKinney and snapped pictures which were later used to identify him.
The affidavit says that McKinney met with police on Wednesday and made a post Miranda statement that indicated he, "may have had incidental contact with the victim."
McKinney was arrested and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Jail on a charge of simple battery. He was released on $10,000 bail after his arrest Wednesday.
Southern University issued a statement on Wednesday saying that they believed the incident was racially motivated.
Statement from SU Athletic Director Roman Banks on Monday’s Incident. pic.twitter.com/G05iAjVts1
— Southern U. Sports (@SouthernUsports) November 10, 2020
The Baton Rouge Police Department says that there was not enough evidence to prove that the incident was racially motivated. Police reported earlier in the week that a racial slur was allegedly used against the victim.
On Wednesday, Our Lady of the Lake, the hospital which placed McKinney on leave after he was identified as a suspect in the attack, released the following statement:
"We don’t tolerate hate, racism or violence by any member of our organization against another person. We take the allegations placed against one of our physicians seriously and understand their gravity. We have placed the physician on administrative leave pending a thorough internal investigation. Based on the outcome of our investigation, we may consider further action. We place the well-being of our patients, teams and community at the forefront of everything we do."
McKinney's LinkedIn profile describes him as a physician specializing in Pediatric Emergency Medicine Attending at OLOL Children's Hospital. His name appears in search engines as a physician at Our Lady of the Lake, but the page has been removed from the hospital's site.
According to the LinkedIn profile, McKinney has degrees from LSU, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the Georgia Institute of Technology.
