In the early morning hours of November 2, 2017, the community of Port Allen, Louisiana, was rocked by its first homicide in four years. Fretrell Queen, a 28-year-old male, was found shot to death inside his home on Burbridge Street. Concerned neighbors had called 911 around 5 a.m. to report the sound of gunfire, but it was hours later when Queen's body was discovered, riddled with multiple gunshot wounds, in the closet of his bedroom.
The investigation into Fretrell Queen’s murder has
been fraught with difficulties and has left his family with more questions than answers. In the months following the discovery of his body, family members reportedly found shell casings at the crime scene that had been missed by police investigators, raising concerns about the thoroughness of the initial processing of the scene. Over the years, the case has been handled by at least four different detectives, yet no arrests have ever been made. Despite early assurances from the former police chief that they would find those responsible, the case has grown cold, leaving a void in the lives of those who knew and loved him.
In the years since his death, Fretrell Queen's family, led by his mother Tara Snearl, has been a constant and vocal advocate for justice. They have organized annual memorials and 'Stop the Violence' parades, refusing to let his memory or his unsolved case fade from the public's consciousness. These events have become a rallying point for the community, a poignant reminder of a life cut short and a plea for answers that have yet to come. The investigation into Fretrell Queen’s death remains open, a painful and unresolved chapter for his family and the town of Port Allen.
