In the summer of 2021, a burst of gunfire shattered the peace in a Shreveport, Louisiana neighborhood, leaving a young man's life cut tragically short. On the evening of July 13th, Shreveport Police officers were dispatched to the 300 block of Mayfair following reports of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered 22-year-old Dartreyus Demarce Wesley, an African American male, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
He was quickly transported to a nearby hospital, but his injuries proved too severe, and he was pronounced deceased.
Investigators from the Violent Crimes and Crime Scene Units immediately began the arduous task of piecing together the events of that fateful night. Detectives canvassed the area, interviewing potential witnesses and searching for any available video surveillance footage that might offer clues. The crime scene was meticulously processed for evidence as authorities launched a homicide investigation into the death of the young man.
After months of dedicated investigative work, which included the use of various law enforcement tools and techniques, detectives were able to identify four individuals they believed were responsible for Wesley's murder. On October 29, 2021, the Shreveport Police Department secured warrants for the arrest of John Wayne Morgan, Patrick Stricklin, Donavyn Simpson, and Larrion Hawkins. Each of the four men faced a charge of second-degree murder for their alleged roles in the shooting.
At the time the warrants were issued, three of the suspects—Morgan, Simpson, and Hawkins—were already incarcerated at the Caddo Correctional Center on unrelated violent crime charges. The fourth suspect, Patrick Stricklin, who had recently been released on bond for other charges, was taken into custody by the Shreveport Police Department. All four men were subsequently booked in connection with the death of Dartreyus Wesley.
