In a tragic turn of events stemming from a planned robbery, 19-year-old Hykeem Martin, a male resident of Reserve, Louisiana, was killed on the evening of Friday, January 22, 2016. The fatal encounter unfolded in Kenner, in the 2100 block of 43rd Street, where Martin was found deceased with a gunshot wound. Police investigation would soon reveal that the incident was not a straightforward drug deal, but a setup for an armed robbery orchestrated by Martin and his companions.
Investigators
determined that Martin, along with 18-year-old Deleon “Del” Perrilloux and 21-year-old Tandi Hall, had traveled from St. John the Baptist Parish to Kenner with the intention of robbing a drug dealer. The group, which authorities believe may have been involved in similar schemes before, arranged to purchase marijuana from 21-year-old Dayan Sanchez of Kenner. Martin and Perrilloux were both armed with handguns for the confrontation. During the course of the transaction, an exchange of gunfire erupted between Martin and Sanchez, which resulted in Martin being fatally shot.
In the immediate aftermath, Kenner police officers responded to the scene where they discovered Martin’s body, along with a gun and marijuana nearby. The investigation quickly led them to Martin's accomplices. Officers apprehended Perrilloux near an apartment complex on Williams Boulevard, finding a handgun concealed in his pants. Hall was also taken into custody in the 4300 block of Idaho Street as she attempted to flee the area. A fourth suspect was believed to be involved but was not immediately identified.
Following the initial arrests, an arrest warrant was issued for Dayan Sanchez. He surrendered to detectives on the Monday following the shooting. Sanchez was booked on a host of charges, including manslaughter, distribution of marijuana, and several weapons-related offenses due to a prior felony conviction. Martin's accomplices also faced serious charges; Perrilloux was charged with criminal conspiracy to commit armed robbery and illegal carrying of weapons, while Hall was charged with criminal conspiracy to commit armed robbery. In October 2016, Dayan Sanchez pleaded guilty to the charges against him, including manslaughter, bringing a legal conclusion to the case that began with a robbery plot and ended in the loss of a young life.
