In the late hours of a Saturday, a burst of gunfire shattered the homecoming night atmosphere near the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, leaving a scene of chaos and tragedy. When the violence subsided, 26-year-old Corey Mouton, a Black male, was dead. The shooting, which occurred on November 9, 2024, also claimed the life of 24-year-old Jamir Carmouche and left two other individuals critically injured.
The incident unfolded outside a popular restaurant, KOK Wings and Things, located on University Avenue, just across the street from a university dormitory.
Investigators with the Lafayette Police Department quickly determined that the shooting was not a random act of violence. Evidence gathered at the scene suggested that Corey Mouton was the specific target of the assailants. The other victims, including Jamir Carmouche who succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital, were believed to have been tragically caught in the crossfire. A witness at the scene recounted that the shooting was preceded by a heated argument involving several people. This altercation escalated quickly, culminating in the fatal shots that ended Mouton's life at the scene.
In the days that followed the deadly shooting, the Lafayette Police Department made swift progress in their investigation, leading to the apprehension of two suspects. The first arrest was that of Dylon Doucet, a 26-year-old man from the nearby town of St. Martinville. He was taken into custody and booked on serious charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. The investigation continued, and soon after, a second suspect was identified and arrested in connection with the double homicide.
The second man arrested was 26-year-old Trevon Charles, also from St. Martinville. He faced even more extensive charges, being booked on two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder for his alleged role in the deaths of Mouton and Carmouche and the injuries to the two other victims. The community, shaken by the brazen violence, held a candlelight vigil to mourn the lives lost and to call for an end to gun violence. While arrests have been made, the investigation into the tragic deaths continues as the cases against Doucet and Charles move through the legal system.
