In the late hours of a Tuesday in Lafayette, Louisiana, the life of 34-year-old Rodney Joseph Savoy Jr. was tragically cut short. On August 9, 2016, Savoy was fatally shot in a violent intrusion into his home. The male victim died as a result of gun violence.
The harrowing details of that night would later emerge during court proceedings. Savoy's girlfriend, who was pregnant with their child at the time, was hiding in a closet as an assailant fired 28 rounds into the residence.
The gunman ultimately located Savoy in his bedroom and killed him. The brazen attack left a family shattered and a community searching for answers.
In the wake of the shooting, an investigation was launched to bring those responsible to justice. Two individuals were eventually charged in connection with Savoy's murder. One of the suspects, Tevin Jenkins, faced a trial for second-degree murder. His first conviction was the result of a non-unanimous jury verdict. Following a retrial, a unanimous jury found Jenkins guilty of the second-degree murder of Rodney Joseph Savoy. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence.
Another man, Carlos Heard, was also charged with murder in the case. The outcome of the legal proceedings against Heard provides another layer to the quest for justice for Rodney Joseph Savoy Jr. and his grieving family, which included his parents, two sisters, a fiancé, and his children.
