In the early morning hours of May 16, 2021, the community of Rayne, Louisiana, was struck by tragedy with the death of 17-year-old Garrison Cole Gautreaux. A junior at Notre Dame High School, Gautreaux was a beloved member of the community, known for his involvement in the school's football and baseball teams, as well as the 4-H Club. He was discovered in his vehicle in a parking lot on East Louisiana Avenue, having sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the chest.
Law enforcement and paramedics arrived at the scene, but the young man was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the death of the male teenager quickly launched into a homicide case. The Rayne Police Department, with assistance from other law enforcement agencies, began the search for those responsible. Their efforts led to the identification and arrest of two suspects: Scott Allen Cooper, 41, of Church Point, and Robert Allen Moreno, also 41, of Houston. Both men were subsequently indicted on charges of second-degree murder by an Acadia Parish grand jury. They were held at the Acadia Parish Jail, each with a bond set at $5 million.
The legal proceedings for the two accused men have been navigating the court system. One of the suspects, Scott Allen Cooper, has a notable criminal history, which includes a prior murder conviction that was later overturned. For the death of Garrison Gautreaux, a jury trial for Cooper has been scheduled for October 2025. The community continues to mourn the loss of a young life full of promise, remembering a young man who loved hunting and fishing and cherished time with his family and friends.
