In the late hours of a Wednesday night in Lafayette, Louisiana, John Lee Hickenbottom, a 41-year-old male, was fatally shot multiple times. The incident occurred on January 29, 2020, in the 100 block of Edwis Street, right in front of his own home. Hickenbottom had stepped outside to intervene in and de-escalate a disturbance that was taking place. His attempt to quell the altercation tragically ended with him becoming a victim of gun violence.
He was unarmed and simply trying to stop a fight that did not initially involve him.
Following the shooting, an investigation was launched by the Lafayette Police Department, which led to the arrest of four individuals in connection with Hickenbottom's death. The suspects were identified as 38-year-old Heidi Bergeron, 19-year-old Logan LaCroix, and two seventeen-year-olds, Tyler Pellerin and Drake Duyon. The charges brought against them varied. Bergeron and LaCroix were each charged with one count of principal to second-degree murder. One of the teens faced charges of attempted second-degree murder and principal to second-degree murder, while the other was charged with second-degree murder and illegal carrying of a weapon.
The legal proceedings that followed brought further distress to John Lee Hickenbottom's family. Sometime after the arrests, it was revealed that all four of the accused were offered plea deals by the prosecution. This development was met with outrage by Hickenbottom's sister, who expressed her family's profound disappointment and pain at the prospect of lesser sentences for the individuals responsible for her brother's death. She emphasized that her brother's life was taken senselessly, as he was only trying to be a peacemaker. The family continues to grapple with the loss of a man described as unselfish, loving, and brave, who was known for having a big heart and a deep love for his family.
