In the late hours of a Sunday evening in Lafayette, Louisiana, the life of 49-year-old Michael Patin was tragically cut short. On February 2, 2014, while at his place of employment, the Jockey Lot flea market located near Carencro, Patin was fatally shot. The incident unfolded as a group of juveniles were allegedly attempting to break into the business. Patin confronted one of the suspects, who was reportedly trying to steal a vehicle to escape the scene.
It was during this confrontation that Patin was shot in the back. He was quickly transported to Lafayette General but was pronounced dead upon arrival.
The investigation into the shooting led to the swift apprehension of a suspect. A 15-year-old male, Earl Joseph III, was taken into custody by the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Deputies and Lafayette City Police before 6 a.m. the following morning. Joseph, who had just turned 15 two days prior to the incident, was initially taken to the Lafayette juvenile detention center. In connection with the events of that night, five other juveniles, with ages ranging from 12 to 16, were also charged with offenses including criminal trespassing, unauthorized use of a movable, and illegal possession of stolen things, though they were not considered to be directly involved in Patin's death.
Just two days after his arrest, a grand jury in Lafayette Parish indicted Earl Joseph III on a charge of first-degree murder. Following the indictment, he was transferred to the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center, an adult facility, to await trial, with his bail set at $1 million. Joseph subsequently pleaded not guilty to the charge. His legal team later contested his transfer to the adult court system, arguing that it violated his rights due to the absence of a juvenile transfer hearing. They also raised concerns about the conditions of his confinement in the adult facility.
