In the early morning hours of January 10, 2020, Lee Edward Long Jr., a 20-year-old male, was fatally shot in New Orleans. A third-year architecture student at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Long was discovered inside a pickup truck with a gunshot wound to his torso. Despite being able to initially speak with officers who responded to the scene, he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
An investigation led by the New Orleans Police Department resulted in the arrest of
21-year-old Alec Billiot. He was initially booked on one count of second-degree murder and five counts of attempted second-degree murder, suggesting that Long may not have been alone at the time of the incident. An unidentified eyewitness later identified Billiot as the individual who killed Long.
Subsequent legal proceedings brought charges against not only Alec Billiot but also Arec Billiot and Caiden Fruge. In November 2022, a jury reached unanimous verdicts for all three defendants. Alec Billiot was convicted of manslaughter, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and obstruction of justice. Arec Billiot was found guilty of negligent homicide and conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, while Caiden Fruge was convicted of manslaughter and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.
The convictions brought a measure of justice to Long's family, who had been actively seeking answers and accountability since his death. The family expressed that while the convictions were not for second-degree murder as they had hoped, they were grateful for the outcome and the efforts of the District Attorney's office. The immense stress of the ordeal took a heavy toll on Long's mother, who was reported to have been hospitalized for over a year with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also known as 'broken-heart syndrome,' due to her relentless pursuit of evidence against her son's killers.
