In the afternoon hours of a late November day, a family's trip to a barbershop in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, turned into a scene of unimaginable horror. Eight-year-old Diellon Daniels was in a car with his mother, Courtlyn Daniels, and his four siblings when their vehicle was riddled with more than 20 bullets in a drive-by shooting near Lofton Hair Care, just off Southern University's campus.
As Courtlyn Daniels tried to drive her children to safety, the hail of gunfire continued, causing
her to crash into a nearby tree. Despite being wounded, Diellon and two of his siblings managed to flee the car and ran back into the barbershop seeking safety. It was there, at the feet of barber Braylon Canty, that young Diellon collapsed. He was rushed to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries. His two siblings who were also shot were expected to recover.
The investigation into the senseless act of violence led to the arrests of four main suspects. Kendrick Profit, 22, was taken into custody and faced charges of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted first-degree murder, along with illegal use of a weapon and obstruction of justice. Police identified Profit from surveillance footage as one of four men who exited the vehicle from which the shots were fired. Another suspect, 19-year-old Roger Parker, was the last of the four main suspects to be apprehended. He was charged with first-degree murder, five counts of attempted first-degree murder, and illegal use of a weapon. Parker's girlfriend, Briana Crump, and her mother, Jarnell Crump, were also arrested and accused of hiding him from law enforcement.
Investigators believe the four main suspects have ties to a violent street group, and the District Attorney has indicated they could face additional charges related to group violence. A trial for the four individuals arrested in connection with Diellon's murder has been set. The community and Diellon's family continue to mourn the loss of the young boy, described as the life of the family, as they await justice.
