SHREVEPORT, LA — A Shreveport man is facing a second-degree murder charge after police say he fatally stabbed his sister late Monday night inside a home on Clingman Drive. The victim, identified as 46-year-old Melanie Lincoln, died after being taken to a hospital with a neck wound.

The Facts

• What: Police say Melanie Lincoln was stabbed and later died from her injuries.
• Where: A home in the 4300 block of Clingman Drive in Shreveport.
• When: Late Monday night, with police responding shortly after 10:30 p.m.
• Who: The victim was Melanie Lincoln, 46, and the suspect is her brother, 44-year-old Patrick Lincoln.
• Charges: Patrick Lincoln was charged with one count of second-degree murder.
• Status: Police arrested him after witness statements and physical evidence were gathered.

What police say

Shreveport police said officers were called to the residence shortly after 10:30 p.m. and found Melanie Lincoln inside suffering from a stab wound to the neck. The Caddo Parish coroner said she had been stabbed while sleeping.

Police said Shreveport Fire Department personnel took her to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. She later died there, according to authorities.

Investigators said a witness identified Patrick Lincoln as the suspect. Police also said Violent Crimes investigators and Crime Scene personnel collected evidence at the house.

The arrest came after detectives executed a search warrant at the home and recovered additional evidence, according to police.

The investigation

In a homicide investigation, officers and detectives typically work from witness accounts, physical evidence, and the scene itself to build a timeline. That can include searching for weapons, documenting injuries, photographing the room, and looking for trace evidence that may connect a suspect to the crime.

Police said the search warrant at the Clingman Drive home produced additional evidence. While officials have not released details about that evidence, search warrants are commonly used to secure possible proof before it can be altered, removed, or overlooked.

When an investigation involves a family member, detectives often still rely on the same basic steps: interviews, scene processing, and corroborating statements with physical findings. Police have not said whether any other people were inside the home when the stabbing happened.

What the charges mean

Second-degree murder is one of the most serious homicide charges in Louisiana. In general, it means prosecutors believe the killing was committed with the level of intent or circumstances required by state law for that offense.

A charge is not a conviction. The case still has to move through the court process, where the state must present evidence and prove its case under the law. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until a court finds otherwise.

After an arrest on a homicide charge, the case commonly moves through booking, initial court appearances, and later hearings on evidence, bond, and formal proceedings. The exact path depends on how prosecutors and the court handle the case.

What happens next

Police have not announced any additional arrests in the case. Further court steps will depend on how prosecutors move forward with the charge against Patrick Lincoln.

As the case advances, investigators may continue reviewing evidence gathered from the home and witness statements. Any future court dates, filings, or bond decisions would be handled through the local court system.

Have information on a crime? Contact local police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).