In the winter of 2020, the community of New Iberia, Louisiana, was shaken by the untimely death of 19-year-old Liam Michael McDuff. A native of the area and a graduate of Catholic High School, Liam passed away on Sunday, December 13, 2020. He was a student at Louisiana State University and a member of the Theta Xi Fraternity.
On the night of Saturday, December 12, 2020, Liam attended a party at a barn on Sugar Oaks Road.
The event, which had been publicized on social media, drew a large crowd, including a group of individuals who were not invited. An altercation arose, and the uninvited group was asked to leave the premises. As they were departing, one of the individuals retrieved a firearm from their vehicle.
Around 1:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, the suspect fired the weapon towards a group of people standing outside the barn. Liam McDuff was struck by the gunfire. He was the only person injured in the incident. He was quickly transported to Iberia Medical Center, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. It does not appear that he was the intended target of the shooting.
The Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office launched an investigation into the homicide. With the help of over 40 eyewitness accounts, detectives were able to quickly identify the individuals involved. On Tuesday, December 15, 2020, two suspects were taken into custody. A 15-year-old male, identified as Jayden Vongchanh, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder for allegedly firing the shot that killed McDuff. He was subsequently transferred to a juvenile detention facility. An 18-year-old, Richard Perez, was also arrested and charged with accessory after the fact to second-degree murder and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. Perez was booked into the Iberia Parish Jail.
Court proceedings followed, and Jayden Vongchanh was ultimately convicted in connection with the death of Liam McDuff. The investigation into the incident continued, with authorities suggesting that additional charges could be possible.
