In the quiet neighborhood of East Sycamore Street in Alexandria, Louisiana, the afternoon of April 13, 2025, was shattered by an act of violence that claimed the life of 23-year-old Keely Brand. A mother of four, Brand was found with fatal gunshot wounds in what authorities would later describe as a targeted and deliberate, execution-style murder. The brazen nature of the crime, carried out in broad daylight, sent ripples of shock and fear through the community, prompting calls for an end to
the violence plaguing their city.
The Alexandria Police Department launched an intensive investigation into the death of the young, Black female. Their efforts quickly focused on a suspect who lived just a few houses away from the victim. Within three days of the shooting, on April 16, 2025, the APD SWAT team took 19-year-old Terris Strong Jr. into custody. Initially, Strong was arrested on charges of possession with intent to distribute drugs and illegal use of a firearm.
While Terris Strong Jr. was in custody on the initial charges, detectives continued to build their case against him for the murder of Keely Brand. Their investigation led to a warrant for his arrest on a charge of second-degree murder. Strong, who was already incarcerated at the Rapides Parish Detention Center, was served with the new warrant. His total bond was set at $1,101,500. The arrest brought a swift, though somber, resolution to the immediate search for a suspect in a case that had deeply affected the Alexandria community and highlighted the ongoing issue of gun violence.
