In the quiet city of Lafayette, Louisiana, the life of a bright and ambitious 27-year-old African American woman, Katrina Broussard, was tragically cut short on the evening of February 13, 2017. A native of Lake Charles, Katrina had made Lafayette her home for the past nine years, building a life filled with promise and achievement. She was a proud graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where she earned a degree in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Pre-Law, and was
employed as a paralegal at a local law firm. Those who knew her remember an infectious smile and a positive energy that touched everyone around her.
The circumstances of her death unfolded in her apartment on Guilbeau Road, where she was discovered with a fatal gunshot wound. The investigation soon revealed a grim narrative of domestic violence culminating in a murder-suicide. The perpetrator was identified as her 29-year-old boyfriend, Oris Briggs of Abbeville. According to police, Briggs shot and killed Broussard following a domestic altercation.
After ending Katrina's life, Briggs fled the scene. His escape was short-lived, however, as he was later found dead in his vehicle in the nearby town of Kaplan. His death was the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, bringing a final and tragic conclusion to the violent events of that night. Friends and neighbors of the couple later recounted a troubled relationship, describing Briggs as jealous and controlling. There were reports of him banging on her door for extended periods and of arguments so heated that Katrina had screamed for help, though friends were unaware of any physical abuse.
