In the late hours of May 31, 1974, the life of 31-year-old John W. Doucet was tragically cut short in Lafayette, Louisiana. A male taxi driver originally from Church Point, Doucet was on duty, navigating the city streets around midnight, unaware that his final fare would be a fatal one. His evening took a dark turn when he was dispatched to pick up three individuals who had called for a cab with the intention of robbing the driver.
The trio directed Doucet to a secluded area where the
robbery was set to take place. In a sudden and violent act, one of the passengers, 14-year-old Dalton Prejean, armed himself with a firearm brought by one of his companions. Believing that Doucet was reaching for a weapon of his own, the teenager fired his gun twice, ending the taxi driver's life.
In the aftermath of the shooting, law enforcement began their investigation, which led to the arrest of Dalton Prejean in June of 1974. During questioning, Prejean confessed to the killing, detailing the plan to rob the taxi driver. Following his confession, he was committed to the Louisiana Training Institute. It was revealed that Prejean had a history of encounters with the law, with prior commitments to juvenile facilities for offenses including burglary, theft, and possession of firearms. He had recently been released on probation to his mother after escaping from a residential program.
The story of John Doucet's murder is tragically intertwined with the troubled life of his killer. Years later, in 1977, while out on release, Dalton Prejean was involved in another fatal shooting. This subsequent crime led to his conviction for murder and ultimately to his execution in 1990. The case brought attention to the complexities of juvenile crime and the cyclical nature of violence.
