In the summer of 2016, the life of 26-year-old Donald 'Stoney' Boatman was cut short in a hail of bullets on a street in New Iberia, Louisiana. On the evening of July 1st, Boatman was a passenger in a white Lincoln when gunfire erupted, leaving him dead and the driver of the vehicle wounded.
The investigation into the shooting quickly pointed to a violent feud between rival gangs.
Authorities with the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office revealed that Boatman was believed to have been involved in a separate drive-by shooting just weeks prior. The shooting that claimed his life was seen as a continuation of this violent turf war. Investigators determined that multiple gunmen had fired into the vehicle carrying Boatman.
Complicating the investigation, detectives concluded that the driver of the car had been shot by Boatman from the passenger seat. However, when law enforcement arrived at the scene on Anderson Street, the gun and any shell casings were missing, leading them to believe the crime scene had been tampered with before their arrival. This, coupled with a reluctance of witnesses to come forward for fear of retaliation, created significant hurdles for investigators.
In the days following the deadly shooting, law enforcement officials acknowledged the challenges they faced in piecing together the events of that night. While they developed several leads, the investigation was hampered by the fear that permeated the community. No suspects were publicly named in the immediate aftermath, and information regarding any arrests or convictions in the murder of Donald Stoney Boatman remains elusive. The Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office had asked for the public's assistance, urging anyone with information to come forward.
