In the early afternoon of a Tuesday in Lake Charles, Louisiana, a burst of gunfire shattered the quiet of the Fairview Crossing Apartments on 5th Avenue. When police responded to the call at 12:16 p.m. on October 1, 2019, they discovered 18-year-old Paulden James Lewis had been shot. Paramedics rushed the young man to a local hospital, but his injuries proved too severe.
Paulden James Lewis, a male resident of Lake Charles, succumbed to his wounds the following day, on October 2, 2019.
Paulden, affectionately known as 'Tabby' or 'Tabu' to his family, was born on August 7, 2001. He was remembered as a generous and avid reader who particularly enjoyed the Harry Potter and Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. After graduating from the National Guard Youth Challenge Program in 2018, he began working for a construction company. In an act of ultimate generosity, his legacy continued through organ donation, which was credited with saving two lives.
The investigation into Paulden's death quickly led to the identification of suspects. The Lake Charles Police Department's SWAT team arrested 26-year-old Jeremiah Devon Richard on the morning of October 2nd. Initially charged with attempted second-degree murder, the charge was upgraded to second-degree murder following Paulden's death. His bond was subsequently increased from $500,000 to $1 million.
Further investigation led to more arrests in connection with the shooting. In total, five individuals were taken into custody. One of the suspects, Brandon Jerome Jefferson of Lafayette, was initially charged with first-degree murder. In 2022, Jefferson pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter and was sentenced to 38 years in prison at hard labor. An appeal to have his sentence reconsidered was denied in January 2023.
