In the quiet community of Geismar, Louisiana, a violent encounter in January 2017 tragically ended the life of 39-year-old Kermit Jackson. On a Monday morning, gunshots shattered the peace on Carrie Lane, and when Ascension Parish Sheriff's deputies arrived, they discovered Jackson lying in the street with multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a local hospital but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The incident, which was described by the sheriff as a case of 'gangsters with guns,' set in motion a thorough investigation that would lead to the identification of multiple suspects.
As detectives delved into the circumstances surrounding the shooting, their investigation pointed to several individuals. An Ascension Parish grand jury handed down indictments against four men on charges of second-degree murder: Javante Haynes, 22; Jyvariel Harvey, 20; Kentrell Lewis, 26; and Johnathan Darville, 25. A fifth individual, 37-year-old Rachel Bueche, was also indicted for accessory after the fact to second-degree murder. While Harvey and Lewis were already in custody at the Ascension Parish Jail, law enforcement launched a search for Haynes and Darville who remained at large.
The pursuit of the remaining suspects concluded with their eventual apprehension. Javante Haynes was captured at a hotel in West Baton Rouge following an anonymous tip. The legal process that followed saw Haynes being found guilty of second-degree murder in March 2022. In a separate and tragic turn of events, another of the accused, Jyvariel Harvey, died in May 2022 while in custody from a fentanyl overdose. An investigation into his death led to another inmate being charged with murder. The legal outcomes for Kentrell Lewis, Johnathan Darville, and Rachel Bueche have not been publicly detailed in available online sources.
