On a tragic night in Raceland, Louisiana, the life of 21-year-old Aliza Gabriel was cut short. On June 14, 2020, Aliza, a female resident of Raceland, was an innocent bystander at a large party on St. Louis Street. The festive gathering took a dark turn when a fight erupted among the attendees just after midnight.
The altercation escalated quickly, and despite the recent arrival of deputies from the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office, gunfire rang out.
In the chaos, Aliza Gabriel and another woman, 20-year-old Tanasa Francis, were struck by bullets. First responders and bystanders attempted to render aid, but both women were pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation that followed painted a grim picture of the events that led to the senseless loss of two young lives.
Detectives determined that during the initial fight, a man had struck another individual in the head with a glass bottle before opening fire into the crowd. This indiscriminate act of violence resulted in the deaths of Gabriel and Francis. The Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office launched a thorough investigation, which quickly led them to a suspect.
A few days later, on June 17, 2020, authorities arrested 28-year-old Cordale Richard at his home on St. Louis Street. He was taken into custody without incident and subsequently confessed to the shooting. Richard faced multiple charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, aggravated battery, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was held without bail, leaving a community to mourn the devastating loss of Aliza Gabriel and Tanasa Francis.
