On a Monday evening in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, the life of 24-year-old Sylvester Leblanc, a male resident of the city, was cut short. On October 23, 2017, at approximately 9 p.m., Leblanc was shot on Third Street. He was quickly transported to a local hospital for medical attention, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries and passed away. His death was the result of the shooting, a violent act that would lead to a significant police investigation in the community.
The Ascension
Parish Sheriff's Office launched an investigation into the shooting death of Sylvester Leblanc, which soon led to the identification of multiple suspects. Within a week of the incident, two individuals were taken into custody. Theophilus Joseph, 36 years old at the time, and 27-year-old Shawn Burd were arrested in connection with the fatal shooting. The investigation continued, and a third suspect, 31-year-old Jarmaine 'Big G' Gibson, was apprehended in Napoleonville by the Louisiana State Police Fugitive Apprehension Task Force.
Following the arrests, the suspects faced a range of serious charges. Theophilus Joseph was charged with second-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, illegal use of dangerous weapons, two counts of possession with the intent to distribute schedule I CDS, and drug paraphernalia. Shawn Burd was charged with principal to second-degree murder. Jarmaine Gibson, the third suspect to be arrested, also faced a charge of second-degree murder, in addition to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and illegal use of weapons. While the arrests and charges were publicly reported, further details regarding the trials, verdicts, and sentences for the three men have not been made available in online sources.
