In the early morning hours of November 30, 2020, Abd Del Ghader Sylla, a 30-year-old male, was working the overnight shift at a Shell gas station on Williams Boulevard in Kenner, Louisiana. His life was tragically cut short in a brutal and senseless act of violence that shook the community. At approximately 2:10 a.m., two men entered the convenience store, initially appearing as though they were shopping.
The two men, later identified as brothers Lamonte Loggins and Eric Rodgers, had
planned the robbery and had cased the location hours earlier. After a brief interaction where they discussed liquor and one of them poured a cup of coffee, Lamonte Loggins brandished a 9mm pistol and demanded money from Sylla. Sylla fully cooperated with their demands, handing over all the cash from the register. He was then ordered to get on his knees with his hands in the air, a command he complied with in a desperate plea for his life.
Despite his complete compliance and lack of resistance, Lamonte Loggins walked behind the counter and pistol-whipped Sylla in the head. As Sylla fell onto his back, still with his hands raised in a pleading gesture, Loggins stood over him and fired a single shot into his chest. Mortally wounded, Sylla was able to call 911, telling the operator he had been robbed and shot and was 'about to die' before dropping the phone. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. At the time of his death, Sylla had a one-year-old child and his wife was pregnant with their second child.
Following an investigation, authorities identified Lamonte Loggins, 28, and his brother Eric Rodgers, 29, as the suspects. They were apprehended in Memphis, Tennessee, and extradited to Louisiana. Lamonte Loggins faced charges of first-degree murder, armed robbery, and illegal weapons charges. Eric Rodgers was charged with second-degree murder and armed robbery. A crucial piece of evidence was a latex glove that fell out of Loggins' pocket during the robbery, which was later found to contain his DNA. In July 2023, a Jefferson Parish jury convicted Lamonte Loggins of the first-degree murder of Abd El Ghader Sylla.
