On a tragic evening in Benton, Louisiana, the life of 76-year-old Wilmer Monette was cut short. On June 13, 2024, the elderly man had just arrived at his daughter's home in the Jamestowne subdivision. As he stepped out of his vehicle, a man wearing a black hoodie approached him and opened fire, shooting him multiple times in the upper body before fleeing the scene.
The quiet neighborhood was shattered by the violence, and a family was left to grapple with a sudden and senseless loss.
In the hours that followed, the Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office launched an intensive investigation. A crucial piece of the puzzle came from a vigilant neighbor who had spotted the license plate of the getaway car. This vital information quickly led detectives to their suspects. Destiny Landers, 23, and Delandra Fleming, 22, were apprehended in connection with the fatal shooting. Investigators identified Fleming as the individual who allegedly pulled the trigger, with an accomplice driving the vehicle they used to escape.
The story took a disturbing turn as the background of one of the suspects came to light. It was discovered that Delandro Fleming, the alleged gunman, should have been behind bars at the time of Wilmer Monette's death. Court records revealed that Fleming had been mistakenly released from a Ouachita Parish jail. He was supposed to be serving a two-year sentence for an attack on a corrections officer. A series of administrative blunders, including filing some of his criminal records under an incorrect birthdate, led to his premature freedom. Fleming was no stranger to the justice system, with a criminal history that stretched back to his teenage years.
Following their arrests, both Delandra Fleming and Destiny Landers were indicted by a grand jury in Bossier Parish for their alleged roles in the death of Wilmer Monette. Fleming was subsequently jailed in Bossier Parish, with his bond set at one million dollars as he awaited further legal proceedings. The case has left the community not only mourning the loss of a beloved elderly resident but also questioning the systemic failures that allowed a dangerous individual back onto the streets.
