In a tragic turn of events that unfolded in Marrero, Louisiana, 19-year-old Daz Alexis, a male resident of New Orleans, lost his life in a senseless act of violence. His body was discovered on November 19, 2017, discarded in an open field in the 6100 block of 4th Avenue, bearing a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
The ensuing investigation by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office quickly pointed to an acquaintance, 21-year-old Brandon Martin.
It was determined that on November 18, 2017, Martin shot Alexis in the head as they sat together in Alexis's car. Following the murder, Martin drove to a field near Johnny Jacobs Playground, where he left Alexis's body. He then abandoned the victim's vehicle in a different location in Marrero in an attempt to conceal his crime.
A week after the discovery of Alexis's body, Brandon Martin turned himself into the authorities at the JPSO Criminal Investigations Bureau. He was subsequently arrested and charged with the second-degree murder of Daz Alexis. In a bid to cover his tracks, Martin also disposed of the murder weapon and the car keys in a drainage canal and burned the clothing he was wearing at the time of the shooting, which led to an additional charge of obstruction of justice.
In October 2019, a Jefferson Parish jury found Brandon Martin, who had turned 23 during the trial, guilty as charged on both counts. The jury deliberated for less than three hours before reaching their unanimous verdict. On November 7, 2019, a judge sentenced Martin to a mandatory life sentence in prison for the second-degree murder of Daz Alexis, ensuring he would face the consequences of his violent actions. He received an additional 20-year sentence for obstruction of justice.
