In the late spring of 2025, the life of 54-year-old David Joachain, a male resident of the Opelousas area, was tragically cut short. On June 11th, deputies from the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office and emergency medical services were called to a residence at 1310 Jennings Road in Port Barre, a community near Opelousas, following reports of a possible shooting victim. Upon their arrival, they discovered Mr.
Joachain deceased inside the home from what was later determined to be a single gunshot wound to the chest.
The initial hours of the investigation proved to be crucial. Detectives with the sheriff's office worked quickly, processing the crime scene and gathering information. Their efforts, aided by tips from concerned citizens, soon pointed them toward a person of interest. Within a matter of hours, investigators had identified 23-year-old Jared Eugene Wells, also of Port Barre, as a suspect in the shooting. A search warrant was executed, and Wells was located and taken into custody without incident.
Following his arrest, Jared Eugene Wells was charged with second-degree murder and failure to render aid in connection with the death of David Joachain. The case progressed through the legal system, and on October 10, 2025, a St. Landry Parish Grand Jury formally indicted Wells on the charge of second-degree murder. The indictment carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence. His arraignment was scheduled for November 6, 2025. The swift arrest and indictment brought a measure of resolution to a community shaken by the violent loss of one of its own.
