Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced an arrest has been made in the investigation into the shooting death of 18-year-old D’John Porter of Raceland which occurred in December 2020. Kelvin Davis, 19, of Raceland has been charged with Second Degree Murder.
At around 7:15 p.m. on December 26, 2020, deputies and detectives responded to a shooting on St. Louis Street in Raceland. When deputies arrived, they found Porter lying in the street in the 700 block. He was unresponsive and later pronounced dead.
Through investigation, detectives identified Kelvin Davis as a suspect in the shooting. Then, on Friday, January 8, they obtained a warrant for the charge of Second Degree Murder.
Davis was already in custody having been arrested on December 28, 2020, on outstanding warrants for a series of 11 vehicle burglaries which occurred in September 2020. On Friday, he was also booked on the warrant for Second Degree Murder. His total bail is now set at $1,315,000.
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, and no further details will be released at this time.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre is asking the public for assistance in identifying a person wanted in connection to a burglary at a local church.
On January 6, 2021, deputies and detectives responded to a church on West Main Street in Larose in reference to a burglary complaint. A back door to the church was found to be broken, and several items were moved around. It is not yet known if any items were stolen. Surveillance cameras captured images of an unknown individual inside the church at around 11:30 p.m. on January 5, 2021.
Anyone who can identify this person, or anyone with any other information about this crime, is asked to submit a tip submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers Bayou Region by phone at 1-800-743-7433 or online at www.crimestoppersbr.org. Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers through the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office mobile app. Tipsters could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 in cash if the information leads to an arrest.
Sheriff Craig Webre has announced several promotions and staffing changes at the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office.
“Every few years, we have a shakeup with leadership, mostly due to retirements,” said Sheriff Webre. “Like everyone else, we are looking at 2021 as a ‘fresh start’ in many areas. This round of promotions establishes new leadership in various roles and helps frame the future of this agency.”
Most notably, Lafate Day has been promoted to the rank of Major as head of the Criminal Department. Day, who has served at LPSO for 28 years, most recently served as Captain and director of the Training Academy. He takes over for Bud Dill, the former Chief Deputy who had served in the department head role on a temporary basis following the promotion of Roy Gros to Chief Deputy in the summer of 2020. Additionally, Kevin Johnson has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and will replace Day as director of the Training Academy.
Longtime commander of the Narcotics Section, John Champagne, has been promoted to the rank of Captain. Champagne, a 22-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office, will supervise the Operational Support Division which includes such sections as Communications and School Services. Captain John Champagne takes over for Captain Josh Champagne who will now supervise the Uniform Patrol Division. Captain Chad Shelby, who has overseen the Patrol Division since 2014, will return to his former role as Captain of the Investigations Division.
Brennan Matherne, who has served as Public Information Officer since 2011, has been promoted to rank of Captain. Matherne will maintain his role as PIO, and he will assume additional duties as supervisor at the South Lafourche Substation in Cut Off.
Jennifer Knight has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in the School Services Section. She will supervise all school resource officers and D.A.R.E. officers. Knight replaces Lt. Nolan Smith who is retiring with more than 30 years of service.
Lesley Hill, who serves as Accreditation Manager, has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. Charles Todaro has also been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant at the Transitional Work Program. William Hand has been promoted to the rank of Sergeant in the Animal Control Section.
Major Lafate DayCaptain John ChampagneCaptain Brennan MatherneLieutenant Lesley HillLieutenant Kevin JohnsonLieutenant Jennifer KnightLieutenant Charles TodaroSergeant William Hand
12/27/2020 UPDATE: The victim of this shooting has been identified as 18-year-old D’John Porter of Raceland. The incident remains under investigation.
ORIGINAL RELEASE:
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre reported detectives are on scene of a shooting death of a man in Raceland. The man was found deceased in the roadway in the 700 block of St. Louis Street. More information will be released as the investigation continues.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers Bayou Region by phone at 1-800-743-7433 or online at www.crimestoppersbr.org. Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers through the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office mobile app. Tipsters could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 in cash if the information leads to an arrest.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a Kraemer man for sex crimes involving a juvenile. Christopher Duplantis, 34, is charged with indecent behavior with a juvenile and obscenity.
On December 12, 2020, detectives opened an investigation after allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced involving a juvenile girl under the age of 13. Duplantis reportedly exposed himself to the girl and showed her nude photos of himself, as well as pornographic videos. Following an investigation, detectives obtained a warrant for his arrest.
On Tuesday, December 22, detectives made contact with Duplantis, and he was arrested. He was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex on charges of Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile and Obscenity. Bail is set at $75,000.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre reported the arrest of a man who was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile twice in four days. Reaven Kerner, 18, of Raceland also faces a felony charge for taking a vehicle without the owner’s permission.
On December 16, 2020, juvenile detectives responded to a report of a runaway teenage girl from Raceland. She was located later that day with Kerner, who did not cooperate with the investigation prior to her being located. At that time, Kerner was issued a criminal summons for Contributing to the Delinquency of a Juvenile.
Then, on December 20, the girl reportedly ran away again. During the course of the investigation, detectives learned she was again with Kerner, and that he had taken another man’s truck without permission. Kerner was arrested and charged for a second time with Contributing to the Delinquency of a Juvenile, as well as Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, a felony. He was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex, and bail is set at $5,500.
The teenage girl was placed at the Juvenile Justice Facility in Thibodaux.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre said detectives have recovered a number of stolen items as part of an investigation into “porch pirates” who stole packages which had been delivered to Thibodaux-area residents. Two individuals are currently detained as part of the investigation.
“With Christmas only a week away, we know many of these recovered items are likely gifts,” said Sheriff Webre. “Our investigators want to ensure all this stolen property is returned to its proper owner in an expedited manner.”
As part of the investigation, detectives are attempting to track down owners of the stolen items. Anyone who knowingly had a package stolen, or expected a package in the last 10 days but never received it, should contact the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at (985) 532-4320. Citizens are asked to check the status of each online order and the delivery tracking to ensure they received each item ordered if it’s designated as “delivered.”
The identities of the detainees are not being released at this time as the investigation is continuing. Those identities will, however, be released to the public upon any arrests or charges being filed.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a Raceland man has been arrested following a pursuit after a shooting incident which left one man injured on Monday night. Deputies arrested Kourtland Jones, 21, of Raceland after getting into a pursuit after the shooting which occurred in Raceland. Jones is a person of interest in the shooting. No other arrests have been made.
While patrolling in the Raceland area just after 9:50 p.m. on December 14, 2020, deputies heard gunshots in the area of St. Louis Street. While proceeding toward the area, deputies saw a car leaving the area and attempted a traffic stop. The driver refused to stop, and deputies pursued the car onto LA 1 and then onto LA 182 heading toward Bayou Blue. The driver continued along LA 182 until reaching the intersection with LA 316. At that point, the driver pulled up behind a convenience store and exited the car. He began running on foot.
With the assistance of the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, deputies searched the area and located the driver who was identified as Kourtland Jones. He was found to have narcotics in his possession. During questioning, Jones denied taking part in the shooting. He was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex on charges of Aggravated Flight from an Officer, Possession of Xanax, and Failure to Display License Plate. He was released on Tuesday afternoon, December 15, after posting $15,050 bail. Jones remains a person of interest in the shooting as the investigation continues.
Meanwhile, during the pursuit, a man arrived at a local hospital with gunshot wounds. He was transported to a New Orleans hospital for treatment. His injuries are currently not considered to be life-threatening. The victim told detectives he was taking out the trash when he was shot.
The investigation into the shooting is continuing. Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers Bayou Region by phone at 1-800-743-7433 or online at www.crimestoppersbr.org. Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers through the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office mobile app. Tipsters could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 in cash if the information leads to an arrest.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a man wanted in connection to a shooting in Thibodaux last month is now in custody. Jacob Scott, 25, of Thibodaux was arrested in Avoyelles Parish last week. Scott and Willie Williams, 27, who is also from Thibodaux, are each charged with six counts of attempted murder in the shooting.
At around 9:40 a.m. on November 13, 2020, deputies and detectives responded to a report of shots fired on Carol Street in Thibodaux. Detectives learned a man, two women, and three children were traveling on Carol Street in Thibodaux when they saw a pickup truck on the street. As they approached the truck, one armed man emerged from the bed of the truck, and another from the cab. The two men began shooting at the vehicle with the six occupants. The male victim in the vehicle returned fire, and the other two shooters then left the area. No one was struck during the incident and no injuries were reported.
Through investigation, detectives identified the shooters as Willie Williams and Jacob Scott. They learned Williams had an ongoing feud with the male victim over a woman. Following the investigation, detectives obtained arrest warrants for Williams and Scott. Detectives arrested Williams on November 18, and he was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex on six counts of Attempted Second Degree Murder. He remains there in lieu of $250,000 bail.
Then, on December 10, 2020, Scott was arrested in Avoyelles Parish on the warrants. He was transported to Lafourche Parish on Friday and booked on the aforementioned charges. His bail is also set at $250,000, but he is also being held for Louisiana Probation and Parole.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre is asking for the public’s help in locating 15-year-old Kohl Bouzigar of West 191st Street in Galliano. He was last seen walking away from his residence at around 3 p.m. on December 10, 2020, following an argument with a family member.
Kohl Bouzigar is described as 5’7” tall, weighing approximately 160 pounds with brown hair. He was last seen wearing khaki pants, a black hooded sweatshirt and gray Adidas shoes. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office at (985) 532-2808, or simply dial 9-1-1.
