In the spring of 2022, a domestic dispute in Opelousas, Louisiana, escalated into a tragedy that claimed the lives of two people, including 46-year-old Alton James Thomas. The incident, which unfolded on Mia Street on the evening of April 27, 2022, also resulted in the death of a four-year-old girl and injuries to three other juveniles.
The events of that day began with an argument between Holly Roberts and her next-door neighbor, the mother of the young girl who was killed.
Later that evening, Roberts was met by two men, identified as Davieontray Breaux and Felton Martin James. The two men then went to the neighbor's residence and, following a verbal altercation, opened fire on the occupants. The barrage of bullets fatally wounded Alton James Thomas and the child.
In the wake of the shooting, the family of Alton James Thomas spoke out about the senselessness of the gun violence that had taken their loved one. As the investigation progressed, law enforcement identified three suspects in connection with the double homicide. Felton James Martin of Lafayette was apprehended in the Baton Rouge area, while a search was initiated for a second suspect, Devantre el Bro, also of Lafayette.
Ultimately, a St. Landry Parish Grand Jury handed down indictments against Davieontray Breaux, Felton Martin James, and Holly Roberts. Each was charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Thomas and the young girl. The indictment also included three counts of attempted first-degree murder. The three were scheduled for arraignment in July of 2022.
