On a Monday evening in Houma, Louisiana, 8-year-old Treyce Nicole Bryant was riding in a car driven by her mother. It was March 22, 2021, and the young girl, a student at Lisa Park Elementary School, was tragically caught in the crossfire of a dispute that had nothing to do with her. Several rounds were fired into the vehicle, and Treyce was struck and killed.
The shooting happened on Main Street, and authorities quickly identified a suspect, 23-year-old Davonta Verret.
The investigation revealed that Treyce was not the intended target. A male passenger in the car with Treyce and her mother was the actual target of the shooting, which stemmed from an ongoing feud between him and Verret. Police Chief Dana Coleman described the situation as heartbreaking, lamenting that an innocent child lost her life because of a 'beef between two gentlemen.' Verret, who had a violent past, including a prior manslaughter conviction, was considered armed and dangerous.
After a months-long search, an anonymous tip from Crimestoppers led authorities to Gulfport, Mississippi. In the early morning of August 26, 2021, Davonta Verret was arrested. The arrest was an emotional moment for law enforcement who had been investigating the senseless death of the young girl. Verret was subsequently charged with one count of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder. The community mourned the loss of the bright and beloved child, who was remembered by her family as a 'bright, bright star' who loved to dance and make TikTok videos.
