In the afternoon hours of October 4, 2022, a dispute in a residential neighborhood of Walker, Louisiana, turned deadly, claiming the life of 27-year-old Marrece Felder, a Black / African American male. The fatal encounter unfolded around 4 p.m. near the intersection of Travis Street and Jim Tilley Street. An ongoing disagreement between Felder and another individual escalated into a physical fight. During this altercation, Felder was shot three times.
He was quickly transported to a local hospital for medical attention but ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The Walker Police Department launched an immediate and thorough investigation into the shooting. Their efforts quickly led to the identification of a suspect, Landen Mekale Harper, who was 23 years old at the time of the incident. Investigators concluded that the shooting was the result of the escalating dispute between Harper and Felder. The day after the shooting, Harper was taken into custody and booked into the Livingston Parish Detention Center.
Following his arrest, Landen Mekale Harper was charged with second-degree murder. Initially, his bond was set at $250,000. In May 2023, a Livingston Parish grand jury formally indicted Harper on the charge of second-degree murder. Subsequently, court records indicated that Harper, then 24, was released from custody after posting a $103,000 bond as the legal proceedings in the case against him continue.
