In the fall of 2015, the life of 36-year-old Verdina D. Crichlow, an African American woman, was tragically cut short in Shreveport, Louisiana. On the evening of October 27th, violence erupted inside an apartment at the Woodlawn Terrace Apartments, leaving Crichlow with multiple gunshot wounds. Two other individuals, Tammy Harris, 43, and a 15-year-old female named Tranautica Webb, were also wounded in the shooting.
Despite being rushed to University Health, Crichlow succumbed to her injuries shortly after arrival. The incident left her family, who described her as a good person with two daughters and a grandchild, in a state of shock and confusion.
The investigation into the shooting led authorities to 29-year-old Sherman Elbert Fredieu Jr. and his 24-year-old accomplice, Scarlett Groce. Fredieu was apprehended at his job on Barksdale Air Force Base. Investigators determined that the motive for the deadly encounter stemmed from a drug deal gone wrong. Fredieu had reportedly given money to a man named Jamar Watkins to purchase marijuana from Crichlow. However, police believe Crichlow and Watkins orchestrated a fake robbery to steal Fredieu's money, which enraged him and led to the violent confrontation.
Sherman Fredieu Jr. was subsequently charged with one count of second-degree murder for the death of Verdina Crichlow and two counts of attempted second-degree murder for the injuries sustained by Tammy Harris and Tranautica Webb. Scarlett Groce was also taken into custody and charged with one count of principal to second-degree murder. Following a jury trial, Fredieu was found guilty on all charges. He received a mandatory life sentence in prison without the possibility of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence for the murder conviction. For each count of attempted second-degree murder, he was sentenced to 48 years at hard labor, with those sentences to be served consecutively.
