In the quiet community of Reserve, Louisiana, concern began to mount for 29-year-old Ashton Fleming when friends and family had not heard from him. On the afternoon of January 31, 2019, a friend went to his home on Northwest First Street to check on him and made a grim discovery. Forcing his way inside, the friend found Fleming unresponsive. First responders were called to the scene, but it was quickly apparent that nothing could be done; Ashton Fleming was deceased, the victim of multiple
gunshot wounds.
Investigators with the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office determined that Fleming had likely been killed on the morning of January 30th, more than a day before his body was discovered. The violent nature of his death sent shockwaves through the tight-knit neighborhood, leaving residents fearful and searching for answers. Detectives worked tirelessly, and their investigation soon pointed to a suspect.
A significant break in the case came with the arrest of 23-year-old Kaelon Terrance Charles, also of Reserve. Initially, on February 3rd, Charles was charged with illegal possession of a stolen firearm and unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling. These charges were directly related to Fleming's death. Later, investigators officially linked him to the murder, and his charges were upgraded to second-degree murder.
Authorities revealed that two guns were found in Charles's possession at the time of his arrest. Ballistic testing confirmed that both of these weapons were used in the homicide of Ashton Fleming. While a motive for the killing was not publicly released, the sheriff's office expressed confidence that they had apprehended the individual responsible and did not anticipate any other suspects being named. The diligent work of the detectives was credited with bringing a sense of resolution to a community shaken by the violent loss of one of their own.
