On a cold November evening in York, Pennsylvania, the life of 23-year-old Braydon Aldinger was tragically cut short. On November 23, 2013, Aldinger, a Caucasian male, and another man, 26-year-old Derek Ferree, were shot and killed in the 500 block of West Mason Avenue. The events that led to the fatal encounter began with a plan for a drug deal that spiraled into a robbery and, ultimately, a double homicide.
According to court documents, the incident stemmed from a botched heroin deal.
A woman named Arianna Tavares had allegedly been buying heroin from Laquan Anderson Pierrelouis. Believing that Pierrelouis had stolen money from her, Tavares, along with Aldinger and Ferree, reportedly devised a plan to rob him to get her money back. The meeting for the supposed drug transaction was arranged, but the night took a violent turn, ending with Aldinger and Ferree being gunned down.
The investigation into the double homicide quickly identified three suspects: Laquan Anderson Pierrelouis, 22, known as 'Q'; Dejerek Basil Smallwood, 21, known as 'Diego'; and Arianna Tavares, 22. Smallwood was apprehended in December 2013 and charged with two counts of criminal homicide and conspiracy to deliver heroin. Pierrelouis, who was considered the primary suspect in the shootings, went on the run and became a fugitive. An arrest warrant for homicide was issued for him. Tavares was also taken into custody and charged with conspiracy to deliver heroin for her role in orchestrating the events that led to the murders.
After a thorough investigation and legal proceedings, the individuals responsible for the deaths of Braydon Aldinger and Derek Ferree were brought to justice. In December 2015, a jury found Dejerek Basil Smallwood guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and conspiracy to deliver heroin. He was subsequently sentenced for his role in the killings. After months as a fugitive, Laquan Anderson Pierrelouis was apprehended in New York City in March 2014 and extradited to Pennsylvania to face charges. The resolution of the charges against Pierrelouis and the outcome of the case against Arianna Tavares brought a close to a tragic series of events that began with a plan for retribution and ended in the loss of two young lives.
