In the spring of 2016, a young man's life was tragically cut short in a fatal shooting in Denham Springs, Louisiana. Derick Stewart, a 24-year-old Black male from Baton Rouge, was shot and killed on March 28, 2016. The incident that led to his death unfolded off of Pete's Highway, south of Highway 190, sending ripples of grief and shock through the community. Stewart, along with another individual, was in a vehicle when the shooting occurred.
After being shot, their car crashed into a parked vehicle, and both occupants attempted to flee on foot before collapsing. Both victims were transported to a Baton Rouge hospital, where Stewart ultimately succumbed to his injuries. The second victim sustained a leg injury but was expected to survive.
The investigation into the shooting quickly led to a suspect. The Denham Springs Police Department identified 24-year-old Brian Allen as the person responsible for the deadly encounter. Allen was promptly arrested and initially charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The evidence against Allen was substantial and included home surveillance footage that captured the chilling moments of the crime. The video showed Stewart attempting to drive away, only to be blocked by Allen's vehicle. As Stewart reversed his car to escape, Allen pursued him, exited his vehicle, and opened fire.
In the months that followed, the legal process moved forward. A grand jury indicted Allen for the fatal shooting, and the case proceeded to trial. In February 2017, a jury unanimously found Brian Allen guilty of the second-degree murder of Derick Stewart. Prosecutors presented a compelling case, which included over 60 pieces of evidence. Among the most damning evidence were recorded phone calls Allen made from jail. In these calls, he was heard discussing his alibi and instructing others to wipe his fingerprints from the murder weapon and to hide it. A little less than a year after the shooting, on March 27, 2017, Brian Allen was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence, bringing a sense of justice to Derick Stewart's grieving family.
