Story perspectives
Today in History: Japanese Exchange Student Shot at Wrong House
10/17/2025
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Story summary
- On October 17, 1992, Japanese exchange student Yoshihiro Hattori was shot and killed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after mistakenly approaching the wrong house for a Halloween party. Homeowner Rodney Peairs, believing Hattori posed a threat, fired the fatal shot. This incident sparked global discussions on race relations and perceptions of Asians in America.
