On a tragic Friday night in Merrydale, Louisiana, the life of 62-year-old David Celestine was cut short by gunfire. The incident, which occurred on September 27, 2024, also claimed the lives of 40-year-old Shelita Vallery and 63-year-old Paul Lewis, turning a quiet evening on Grayson Avenue into a scene of violence and loss.
The shooting is said to have stemmed from an ongoing dispute. An argument that evening escalated, leading to the fatal confrontation.
David Celestine was at the home of Vallery's mother, whom he was dating, when the suspects arrived. A fight broke out, which quickly devolved into an exchange of gunfire. Celestine and Shelita Vallery were pronounced dead at the scene, while Paul Lewis was rushed to a hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.
In the aftermath of the deadly encounter, two suspects were identified and apprehended. Dominik Franklin and Tyrone Eackles, both 19 years old, were arrested in connection with the triple homicide. The investigation revealed that Franklin allegedly had a persistent feud with the Vallery family. Both Franklin and Eackles sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the incident and were taken to a hospital for treatment before being transferred to Parish Prison.
Following their release from the hospital, the two men faced serious charges for their alleged roles in the killings. Dominik Franklin was charged with three counts of first-degree murder. Tyrone Eackles was charged with three counts of principal to first-degree murder and illegal use of a firearm. The community was left to mourn the loss of three of its members, remembered by family and friends as vibrant individuals whose lives were senselessly taken.
