On a summer evening in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the life of 20-year-old Jywuan Rakeem Butler was tragically cut short. On August 17, 2017, two masked men, dressed in black, forced their way into an apartment on Sherwood Hollow Court through an unlocked window. Inside, they confronted Butler and his 17-year-old brother. The intruders' intent was robbery, and in the ensuing chaos, both brothers were shot multiple times.
Jywuan Butler succumbed to his injuries, while his younger brother was left wounded.
Investigators soon pieced together the events that led to the violent home invasion. They discovered that Butler had been active on social media, posting pictures of himself with significant amounts of cash. This online display of wealth is believed to have attracted the attention of the assailants, making him a target. The belief that there would be money readily available in the apartment served as the primary motive for the deadly robbery. The tragic incident sent shockwaves through the local community, as friends and family mourned the loss of a young man known to them as 'Wuan.'
The investigation into Jywuan Butler's murder led to the identification and arrest of two suspects: Jamoriya Ben and Kenneth Smith, both 20 years old at the time. Ben was apprehended shortly after the incident. In a twist of events, it was revealed that Ben himself had been shot by his accomplice, Smith, at some point during or after the commission of the crime. Smith was arrested later, and both men were charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and home invasion.
The legal process that followed brought a measure of closure to the family of Jywuan Butler. In October 2023, a jury found Jamoriya Ben guilty of second-degree murder, attempted murder, and home invasion. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison on November 28, 2023. On that same day, his co-defendant, Kenneth Smith, pleaded guilty to the lesser charges of manslaughter and attempted second-degree murder. Smith was sentenced to serve 35 years in prison for his role in the fatal home invasion.
