In the quiet, early morning hours of a Saturday in Hammond, Louisiana, a devastating scene unfolded that would leave a family and community reeling. On November 12, 2022, 37-year-old Brandy Smith, a Black female, and her 17-year-old daughter, Raven Smith, were discovered inside their home on Stephenson Lane, both having suffered from gunshot wounds.
A family member made the tragic discovery and alerted authorities with a 911 call placed around 2:30 a.m.
When deputies from the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office arrived, they found Brandy Smith deceased at the scene. Her daughter, Raven, was still alive and was quickly transported to a local hospital for treatment. Tragically, despite medical efforts, the teenager later succumbed to her injuries. The news of the mother and daughter's violent deaths sent shockwaves through their circle of friends and the wider community.
The investigation into the double homicide was swiftly initiated by the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office. Authorities began to treat the case as a domestic homicide and soon identified a person of interest. This individual, described as a companion of Brandy Smith, was taken into custody. While the person's identity was not publicly released, it was reported that they were being held on charges unrelated to the homicides pending further investigation and the results of the autopsies. Law enforcement officials indicated that they were looking into any history of domestic-related calls to the residence as they continued to piece together the events that led to the tragic loss of two lives.
