On a summer evening in Lafayette, Louisiana, the life of 21-year-old Damien Champ was tragically cut short. On June 30, 2015, Champ was shot and killed on Bossier Street in what became an active homicide investigation by the Lafayette Police Department. The initial reports provided little information about the circumstances surrounding the shooting or any potential suspects, leaving a void of answers for his grieving family and community.
For nearly two years, the investigation into
Damien Champ's murder continued without a publicly named suspect. The case grew cold, but the pursuit of justice did not entirely fade. A significant break in the case finally came to light in early 2017. The man suspected of killing Damien Champ was arrested, but not solely for the 2015 slaying. His apprehension was reportedly for a separate and more recent murder, a development that brought a complex mix of emotions for Champ's family.
The arrest of the suspect, identified as Carlin Begnaud, brought a renewed focus on the death of Damien Champ. Begnaud was indicted by a grand jury in April 2017 for the second-degree murder of Champ. This legal step marked the beginning of what would be a long journey through the court system.
In the end, after a series of legal proceedings, Carlin Begnaud was convicted in connection with the death of Damien Champ. The resolution of the case in the courts provided a measure of closure for a family that had waited years for answers and accountability in the violent loss of their loved one.
